One of the most important organs in humans is the liver, because it works almost to wear, daily performing a huge number of functions at the same time. The impact of negative environmental factors and internal pathological changes have a detrimental effect on the state of this important organ.
Under what conditions of the body it is necessary to urgently consult a specialist and what tests need to be passed to check the liver, we will consider below.
Organ structure
The area of the right hypochondrium, where the liver takes place, is protected from external and internal influences. This organ in an adult can reach up to one and a half kilograms in weight. The liver belongs to the endocrine glands.
Prismatic lobules are the structural material of the organ. They are a small copy of the liver itself. Each lobule has its own blood supply in the form of small capillaries. Gland cells produce bile necessary for processing the food chyme.
The secret to the bile ducts enters the gallbladder - a special sac, which is a depot for bile. And already from here it enters the duodenum, participating further in the digestion process. Although bile is produced continuously, it enters the intestinal tract in batches.
The circulatory system of the liver is quite complex and is represented by a large number of capillaries closely intertwined. The large vessels of the gland are the hepatic artery and portal vein, which carry blood from the aorta to the abdominal organs and back. Close contact of the vessels with the bile ducts ensures the metabolism at the highest level.
Functional "responsibilities" of the liver
The body takes part in many processes simultaneously, performing complex functions:
- secretion for digestion (bile);
- inactivation of toxins, toxic substances and allergens;
- regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and replenishment of energy reserves;
- excretion of metabolic products from the body;
- participation in gluconeogenesis;
- deposition of vitamins.
In addition to participating in the digestion process, the liver is actively struggling with foreign material that has entered the human body. After inactivation of toxic substances, it accelerates the excretion of metabolic results (acetone, ketone bodies, ammonia, etc.). Of great importance is the synthesis function. The liver synthesizes a number of hormones, proteins, cholesterol, bilirubin, bile acids and enzymes.
A feature of the body is also self-healing. This is the only one of the glands of the human body that can restore its size to its original, having only a quarter of its tissue.
What symptoms indicate the need for examination?
Most patients seek help when the disease has already passed into the stage of a chronic course.
Getting specialist advice is necessary when the following clinic appears:
- Painful sensations in the right hypochondrium of a aching, cutting character or cramping with hepatic colic.
- Digestive failure in the form of dyspeptic manifestations (vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, bloating).
- Subfebrile condition or fever up to high rates.
- The appearance of pallor of the skin or the acquisition of a yellowish tint.
- "Hepatic palms" - a symptom in cirrhosis of the liver or chronic hepatitis. The skin on the palms turns red. With pressure on the hyperemic area, redness disappears, but later reappears.
- The appearance of yellow spots.
- Itchy skin and traces of scratching.
What tests need to be done to check the liver?
The functional state of the organ can suffer due to various diseases, ranging from diseases of infectious genesis to tumor processes. After contacting a specialist and conducting an examination, the patient is assigned a set of measures for making the correct diagnosis.
What tests need to be done to check the liver:
- general blood and urine tests;
- liver elastometry;
- hepatography;
- liver scan;
- blood biochemistry and enzymes ALT, AST ;
- additional blood counts - bilirubin, cholinesterase, total protein, phosphatase;
- Ultrasound of the liver.
Fiber Scan - Innovation in Diagnostics
Liver elastometry is a modern examination method, which is prescribed for suspected fibrosis. Before the advent of this procedure, it was possible to study the state of the cells of the liver tissue only with the help of histology.
This procedure has a second name - liver fibroscan. A positive point in the diagnosis is its safety and the absence of invasion into the patient's body. This makes it possible to control the course of the disease in dynamics.
An elastometric study of the liver is carried out using a special device that has a sensor. Ultrasonic vibrations pass through it, which are reflected by the tissues of the organ. The result is displayed on the monitor in the form of already processed information, which indicates the level of elasticity of the gland.
The percentage of accuracy of the results is very high, and the time spent on receiving an answer is minimal. When compared with a biopsy, liver elastometry leads in its functional features. The price of this procedure is about 4000 rubles.
Indications for
This safe examination method is used even for the diagnosis of diseases in children, since it does not require special preparation of the patient and does not cause complications on the part of the body.
Liver elastometry is indicated for the following patients:
- people suffering from chronic liver diseases;
- patients with viral hepatitis;
- patients with cirrhosis of the liver;
- patients who are treated with antiviral drugs in order to assess the state of elasticity of the organ tissue before and after treatment;
- patients who abuse alcohol.
The procedure is carried out using the "Fibroscan." The patient is in a horizontal position, arms are apart, bare chest and abdomen. The sensor is installed at the point where the right lobe of the liver is located. After selecting the studied area, the device performs several measurements, which are processed using a computer program. The result is displayed on the monitor.
Thus, liver elastometry allows you to quickly and accurately assess the functional state of the organ.