Liver Terms Explained
A
Abdomen [ab–doh-muhn]: the belly
Acute [uh–kyoot]: illness that starts suddenly and is often severe
AFP: alpha-fetoprotein [al-fuh-fee-toh-proh-teen]. In adults, a high level of AFP could mean liver cancer (HCC)
Alagille syndrome [al-uh–jee–uhl sin-drohm]: a condition you inherit. It means someone has fewer than normal small bile ducts inside the liver. This can cause bile to build up in the liver
Albumin [al–byoo–muhn]: the main protein made by the liver. Low levels of albumin may mean liver disease
Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency [ an-tee-trip- sin dih–fish–uhn-see] : a condition you inherit that can cause liver disease, jaundice, and cirrhosis
ALP: alkaline phosphatase [al-kuh-lahyn fos-fuh-teys]; a chemical mostly produced in the bile ducts. High levels of ALP in the blood may mean liver injury
ALT: alanine aminotransferase [al–uh-neen uh-mee-noh-trans-fuh-reys]; a chemical mostly produced by liver cells. Raised levels of ALT may mean liver inflammation
Ascites [uh–sahy-teez]: fluid in the belly, sometimes from liver failure
AST: aspartate aminotransferase [uh–spahr-teyt uh-mee-noh-trans-fuh-reys]; high levels of AST in the blood can mean liver damage
Autoimmune [aw-toh-i-myoon]: when the body gets attacked by its own immune system
B
Benign [bih-nahyn]: not cancer; tumours that won’t spread to surrounding tissue or other parts of the body
Bile [bahyl] : yellow-green liquid that is put out from the liver, stored in the gallbladder and passes into the small intestine help digest food by breaking down fat
Bile duct [bahyl duhkt]: tube that carries bile from the liver to the gallbladder and then to the intestines
Biliary atresia [bil-ee-er-ee uh–tree-zhuh] : a condition some babies are born with that means the bile ducts aren’t formed properly
Bilirubin [bil–uh-roo-bin]: a colouring made from breaking down a chemical (haemoglobin) in red blood cells. The liver takes bilirubin from the blood in bile
Biopsy [bahy-op-see]: a small operation to get tiny sample of liver tissue to look at under the microscope. It’s used to see what is causing the liver disease and how much fibrosis (scarring) of the liver is there
Budd-Chiari syndrome [buhd kee-ahr-ree sin-drome] : a rare liver disease that happens when the veins that drain blood from the liver are narrowed or blocked
C
Child-Pugh score [chahyld-pyoo skawr]: a score to show how bad liver disease is
Cholangiocarcinoma [koh-lan-jee-o-kahr-suh–noh-muh]: cancer of the bile ducts, the second most common cancer that starts in the liver
Cholangitis [koh-lan-jahy-tis]: irritated, infected or inflamed bile ducts
Cholestasis [koh-luh–stey-sis]: when the flow of bile is interrupted, resulting in reduced bile reaching the intestine and build-up of bile in the blood causing jaundice and itching
Chronic [kron-ik] : disease or condition that lasts a long time and usually gradually gets worse
Cirrhosis [si–roh-sis] : scarring and damage to the liver. Cirrhosis stops the liver from working properly
Chemotherapy [kee-moh-ther–uh-pee]: drugs to treat cancer
Clinical trial [klin-i-kuhl trahy–uhl] : research study to answer medical questions and solve health problems
Congenital [kuhn-jen-i-tl] : a condition or disease present at or before birth
CT: computerised tomography [kuhm-pyoo-tuh-rahyz-d tom-og-ruh-fee]; a type of imaging that uses X-rays to make detailed pictures of the body
F
Fatty liver disease [fat-ee liv-er dih-zeez] : too much fat in the liver cells, stopping the liver from working properly
FibroScanⓇ [fahy-broh-skan]: an ultrasound scan to check how much fibrosis (scarring) and fat are in the liver
Fibrosis [fahy-broh-sis]: scarring in the liver
G
Gastroenterologist [gas-troh-en-tuh–rol–uh-jist]: a doctor who specialises in the digestive system
GGT: gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase [gam–uh– gloo–tuh-mil trans-pep- tid-eyz]; a chemical in the blood that can mean liver injury
H
Haemochromatosis [hee-muh-kroh-muh–toh-sis]: a condition you inherit which means too much iron in the blood and organs. It can cause cirrhosis and liver failure
Hepatic [hi-pat-ik]: about the liver
Hepatic artery [hi-pat-ik ahr-tuh-ree]: the blood vessel that brings blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the liver
Hepatic encephalopathy [hi-pat-ik en-sef-uh–lop–uh-thee]: a nervous system disorder brought on by severe liver disease. When the liver doesn’t work properly, toxins build up in the blood. These toxins can travel to the brain and affect brain function.
Hepatitis [hep-uh–tahy-tis]: inflammation of the liver
Hepatitis A: a liver condition caused by the hepatitis A virus; you get it from infected food or water. There is a vaccine for hepatitis A
Hepatitis B: a liver condition caused by the B virus; you get it from body fluids of someone infected with hepatitis B. There is a vaccine for hepatitis B
Hepatitis C: a liver condition caused by the hepatitis C virus; you get it from body fluids of someone infected with hepatitis C. There is a cure for hepatitis C
Hepatocellular carcinoma – HCC [hep-uh-toh-sel–yuh-ler kahr-suh–noh-muh ]: the most common form of cancer that starts in the liver
Hepatologist [hep-uh–tol–uh-jist]: a doctor who specialises in liver health and disease
Hepatology [hep-uh–tol–uh-jee]: study of the liver
Hepatomegaly [hep-uh-toh-meg–uh-lee]: when the liver gets too big; you can feel it below the ribs
I
Icteric [ik-ter-ik]: jaundiced
Idiopathic [id-ee-uh–path-ik]: condition or disease where the cause isn’t known
Immunotherapy [im-yuh-noh-ther–uh-pee] : a treatment for cancer that uses the body’s own immune system to fight the cancer
Immunosuppressant [im-yuh-noh-suh–pres-ant]: a medicine that causes the body’s immune system to weaken or stop working
J
Jaundice [jawn-dis] : yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes caused by too much bilirubin in the blood. Jaundice is a sign the liver isn’t working properly
K
Kasai procedure [kah–sahy pruh-see-jer]: type of surgery for biliary atresia that brings back bile flow
L
Liver function test [liv-er fuhngk-shuhn test]: blood tests that check how well the liver and bile ducts are working. Also called a liver enzyme test
M
Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD) [met-uh–bol-ik fat-ee liv-er dih-zeez] : is a type of fatty liver disease caused by problems of the metabolism, often in people who have a poor diet or are overweight
Metastasis [muh–tas-tuh-sis] : when cancer cells spread to other parts of the body from where the cancer started
Malignant [muh–lig-nuhnt]: cancer that could spread to other parts of the body
MELD Score: Model for End-Stage Liver Disease: a score for working out the risk of dying in people with end-stage liver disease
MRE: magnetic resonance enterography [mag-net-ik rez–uh-nuhns en-ter-og-ruh-fee]; a type of imaging used for digestion problems
MRI: magnetic resonance imaging [mag-net-ik rez–uh-nuhns im–uh-jing ]; a type of imaging that uses magnets, radio waves and computers to take detailed picture of the inside of the body
N
NAFLD: Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease [non al-kuh–hol-ik fat-ee liv-er dih-zeez] . A form of fatty liver disease. It is now often called Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease (MAFLD)
NASH: Non-Alcoholic SteatoHepatitis [non al-kuh–hol-ik stee-at-uh-hep-uh–tahy-tis] – the more advanced stage of fatty liver disease
P
PBC: primary biliary cholangitis [prahy-muh-ree bil-yuh-ree kohl-an-jayh-tis]: a rare autoimmune condition that affects the bile ducts and can eventually lead to cirrhosis
Portal Hypertension [paw-tal hy-puh-ten-shuhn]: a disease affecting the liver, portal system of veins, and also the oesophagus and spleen. The portal vein takes blood from the gut to the liver. In the case of liver cirrhosis and a few other causes, there is an impedance to portal blood flow to the liver which causes an increase in pressure in the portal vein. This causes the spleen to enlarge, for fluid to drain into the abdomen (ascites) but also the formation of enlarged veins. You can watch a video about it here.
PSC: primary sclerosing cholestasis [prahy-muh-ree kuh-les-stey-sis]: an autoimmune condition usually found in people who also have inflammatory bowel disease. It may lead to liver failure, infections or tumours in the bile duct or liver (cholangiocarcinoma or hepatocellular carcinoma)
Pruritus [proo–rahy-tuhs]: severe itching
PTLD: post transplant lymphoproliferative diseases [pohst trans-plahnt lim-fuh-pruh–lif–uh-rey-tiv] , a condition in people who have had a liver transplant thought to be caused by a reaction between the Epstein Barr virus and some of the drugs. PTLD can turn into lymphoma, a cancer of the blood
R
Rejection [ri-jek-shuhn] : when the body’s immune system rejects a transplanted organ
Reye’s Syndrome [rey-s sin-drohm] : sudden and severe childhood liver disease, which can happen after a virus or from taking paracetamol
S
Stenosis [sti-noh-sis]: abnormal narrowing of a body opening. Also called a stricture
Steroid [ster-oid]: medicine that damps down the body’s immune system
T
Targeted therapy [tahr-git-ed ther–uh-pee] : treatment that attacks cancer cells
Tumour [tyoo-mer]: a cancer growth made of abnormal cells
Transplant [trans–plahnt] : surgery that takes out a diseased liver and puts in a new healthy liver, or part of a liver, from a donor
U
Ultrasound [uhl-truh-sound]: a type of imaging that uses high-frequency sound waves and computers to take detailed pictures inside the body
V
Varices [vair–uh-seez]: when veins are stretched and thinned out because the liver doesn’t work properly. Varices are often found in the food pipe
Viral hepatitis [vahy-ruhl hep-uh–tahy-tis]: liver inflammation caused by a virus
W
Wilson’s disease [wil-suhns dih-zeez ]: a condition you inherit where there is too much copper in the liver and other organs
References
Global Liver Institute. Liver Glossary