The specialty of a hepatologist is the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the liver and biliary tract. Another important area of work for a hepatologist is the prevention of liver diseases, many of which are deadly.
A good specialist has a thorough understanding of the anatomy, normal and pathological functioning of the liver, and age criteria that directly affect the course of the disease.
The responsibilities of the one who treats the liver include developing tactics to combat the pathology and subsequent measures that will speed up recovery.
You will learn more about who a hepatologist is and what exactly he treats in this article.
What diseases does it treat?
Any symptoms of liver disease require a thorough examination and further diagnosis, since problems in the functioning of the organ can lead to serious consequences. Treatment of any pathology usually takes a long time and requires a lot of effort on the part of both the doctor and the patient. The diseases that fall under the competence of a hepatologist are listed below.
Hepatitis
Characterized by inflammation of functional liver cells. They are divided into:
- viral;
- toxic;
- autoimmune.
- The most common are viral hepatitis , which is transmitted through body fluids, from mother to child during pregnancy and by the fecal-oral route. An infectious disease specialist treats acute viral forms.
- Toxic types of hepatitis are caused by the ingestion of industrial or household poisons, medications and alcohol.
- Autoimmune types are associated with the immune system not accepting the body's own cells.
The hepatologist must establish the type of disease, its stage, find the cause of the problem, select an appropriate treatment method, adjust it during therapy and prevent the development of complications.
Cirrhosis
They represent the transformation of working liver cells into fibrous tissue. The development of cirrhosis is chronic and is accompanied by damage and death of hepatocytes - the working cells of the liver. Cirrhosis can be caused by hepatitis, severe oxygen deprivation of the organ, and shock.
Alcoholic liver diseases
Appear due to alcohol abuse. Usually they combine liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis.
Storage pathologies
A sign of disease is an excessive concentration of a substance in the liver. These include:
- mucopolysaccharidoses (metabolism disorder of acidic mucopolysaccharides);
- dyslipoproteinemia (disorder of lipid metabolism in the body);
- lipidoses (disorders of lipoprotein metabolism);
- glycogenosis (disorders of glycogen metabolism).
Hereditary pathologies
Hereditary pathologies include some storage diseases (mucopolysaccharidosis and dyslipoprotoidemia), as well as familial non-hemolytic jaundice (Gilbert syndrome) and hepatocerebral dystrophy (Wilson-Konovalov disease).
Diseases of the biliary tract and bladder
These include cholangitis and cholecystitis of various types and causes, including sclerosing primary cholangitis.
If the hepatologist discovers tumors in the liver, the patient is referred for consultation to an oncologist. If malfunctions in the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract are diagnosed, additional examination by a gastroenterologist will be required.
When to contact a hepatologist
The answer to the question “Which doctor should I see if my liver hurts?” I understand - this is a hepatologist. But problems in the functioning of the organ can be expressed by other signs not directly related to the liver:
- general weakness, fatigue;
- nagging pain in the right hypochondrium, lack of appetite, weight loss;
- elevated body temperature that persists for a long time;
- periodic urge to vomit;
- acquiring a icteric tint to the skin;
- darkening of urine and lightening of stool;
- tendency to develop hematomas at the slightest impact on the body;
- periodic bleeding from the gums and nose;
- cases of stomach bleeding;
- an increase in the volume of the peritoneum against the background of a decrease in body weight;
- the appearance of a venous network on the front of the abdomen.
Is hepatitis C completely and permanently curable?
In the presence of chronic inflammatory processes of the biliary tract or liver tissue, the above symptoms are expressed all together or to one degree or another. Contacting a hepatologist will help determine the reasons for their appearance. If the detected symptoms do not fall within the scope of the doctor’s activities, the patient will be referred to another specialist to accurately determine the diagnosis.
Since the most common liver pathologies remain cirrhosis and hepatitis C, every person should know the symptoms with which they need to go to the doctor.
Signs of liver cirrhosis vary depending on the stage of the disease. The initial stage usually takes place secretly, so patients do not even suspect the presence of a process of degeneration of liver cells.
It is necessary to check your condition if there is severe bleeding of the gums, an increase in the size of the abdomen and pain in the right side of the peritoneum.
In adult patients, the first stage of the disease is characterized by loss of concentration and inability to concentrate on certain activities. There is increased weakness and fatigue.
With the development of cirrhosis, its symptoms become increasingly pronounced.
- The color of the skin takes on a yellow tint.
- Sexual desire and potency in men disappears.
- The fecal matter becomes light in color, and the color of the urine changes to dark and resembles beer or kvass.
Identifying pathology at an early stage is of utmost importance. If you do not ignore the first symptoms and consult a doctor who treats the liver in time, the chances of success will increase significantly. Treatment in the initial stages is more effective, and destructive processes in organ tissues can be reversed.
The liver has the ability to regenerate very well, which gives hope for a full recovery.
Most infected people are not even aware of the presence of the hepatitis C virus. The causative agent of the disease can remain inside a person for years and decades without showing signs. The initial period of development, called incubation, occurs with virtually no symptoms
Very often, the disease practically does not make itself felt, even moving into an acute or chronic stage. During this entire time, the organ tissues are gradually destroyed. Sometimes this process can take up to 25 years.
Weak signs of the presence of a virus in the body are:
- constant weakness;
- loss of appetite;
- nagging pain in the peritoneum;
- weight loss;
- itching and rashes on the skin.
A special feature of the virus is its ability to further impair the functioning of the endocrine, circulatory and nervous systems, joints, muscle tissue and kidneys.
How does a doctor check your liver?
Since liver diseases are mostly chronic, establishing an accurate diagnosis and determining treatment tactics will require several visits to the hepatologist's office.
A pediatrician can refer a child to a specialist if the child detects symptoms of one of the organ diseases.
First, the patient answers questions about his condition, the doctor collects complaints, examines the patient and prescribes the necessary instrumental and laboratory tests. If necessary, medications are prescribed to eliminate the initial symptoms.
Diet for cholelithiasis (gallbladder stones)
The final diagnosis and treatment regimen is determined by the attending physician after he has fully examined the patient.
The main goals of the patient interview and subsequent examination are:
- determination of signs of organ disease;
- identification of hereditary factors in the occurrence of various liver diseases;
- establishing the patient’s lifestyle, work schedule, rest and nutrition;
- identifying possible causes of infection with viral forms of hepatitis.
Types of tests and diagnostic methods
The need for additional laboratory and instrumental studies is determined after a detailed interview and examination of the patient. To make an accurate diagnosis, the following basic studies are carried out:
- donating blood for general analysis;
- study of biochemical blood parameters;
- conducting a general urine test.
If it is necessary to further check some indicators, the patient may be referred for an ultrasound or radiological examination. Additional diagnostic methods also include:
- determination of the concentration of erythrocytes and reticulocytes in the blood;
- stool analysis for the presence of stercobilin;
- MRI, ultrasound or CT scan of the liver;
- electroencephalography;
- tests for the presence of herpes simplex viruses, cytomegalovirus, Epstein-Barr;
- liver biopsy.
If the presence of the hepatitis E virus is suspected, an additional examination of the patient's stool and urine is performed to determine the level of hemoglobin in them.
Treatment of liver and biliary tract diseases
Therapy for viral forms consists of eliminating the infectious agents. Antiviral drugs are used for these purposes. Treatment can be prescribed in combination with plant extracts to restore organ function.
An important stage of treatment is the detection of concomitant pathologies of other organs in a chronic form, as well as diseases of the respiratory, urinary or cardiovascular systems. If the treating hepatologist finds them, then additional medications are prescribed in order to achieve stable remission.
Treatment of persistent forms of hepatitis, fatty hepatosis and diffuse changes in the liver consists of complex administration of several medications included in the following groups:
- corticosteroids;
- anabolic hormones;
- immunostimulants;
- hepatoprotectors.
The combination and dosage of drugs are selected based on the causes of the disease, the degree of damage to organ tissue and the state of the immune system:
- Activation of metabolic processes, acceleration of tissue regeneration and increased immunity are promoted by drugs based on ursodeoxycholic acid: Methyluracil and Neovir.
- Hepatoprotectors help increase the resistance of liver cells to harmful influences: Liv-52, Essentiale Forte, Sibektan, Heptral, Karsil, Gepabene. As a supplement, dietary supplements, for example, Gepagard Active, can be prescribed.
- Taking the enzymes Mezim and Creon helps restore digestion and normalize the functioning of the bile ducts and bladder. In combination with them, injections of B vitamins are prescribed.
- In the case of autoimmune hepatitis, corticosteroids are used for treatment in combination with the drug Imuran.
Determining the patient’s correct diet also plays an important role. Typically, patients with liver pathologies follow diet No. 5, but dietary nutrition may vary slightly depending on the individual course of the patient’s disease.
If you suspect liver or gallbladder diseases, you should consult a hepatologist as soon as possible. The specialist will prescribe competent treatment when confirming the presence of the disease, which will help prevent various complications.
Source: https://MyPechen.com/gepatolog/
Hepatologist in Moscow
Consultation
-
Bella Leonidovna Lurie Hepatologist. Candidate of Biological Sciences, member of the European Association for the Study of the Liver EASL.
Bella Leonidovna Lurie provides consultations at our center! During a free anonymous consultation, we will analyze your situation, study the tests you already have, and give accessible explanations and recommendations for the examination. We are waiting for you today!
Sign up by phone or through the sign up form on the website. You can also come to us at any convenient time without an appointment.
Hepatologist, Candidate of Medical Sciences, doctor of the highest category, author of more than 20 scientific papers on the treatment of viral hepatitis.
The candidate's dissertation on the topic: “Treatment of acute viral hepatitis C with interferon-type drugs” was carried out on the basis of 1 IKB under the guidance of Professor N.M. Blokhina. Assistant at the Department of Infectious Diseases of the Russian Medical Academy of Postgraduate Education. Read more Hepatologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences, general practitioner of the highest category, with 35 years of experience in the field of hepatology. In 1990 she defended her PhD thesis on “Viral chronic liver diseases and pregnancy”, in 2000 she defended her doctoral thesis on “Chronic hepatitis C: clinical and morphological characteristics, course, treatment.” He is one of Russia's leading experts in the field of hepatology. More details
A hepatologist is a doctor who treats liver diseases.
The most common diseases for which people consult a hepatologist are:
- Acute and chronic hepatitis (treatment of hepatitis B and hepatitis C)
- Fatty liver disease (liver steatosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Alcoholic liver damage (alcoholic hepatitis)
- Gilbert's syndrome
- Hemochromatosis
- Liver cirrhosis (most often a consequence of advanced above-mentioned diseases)
Liver disease has a variety of causes, each of which requires different treatment approaches. For some liver diseases, such as chronic viral hepatitis, existing standard antiviral therapy can have serious and dangerous side effects, which requires the hepatologist to have the knowledge and experience to make innovative decisions .
The specialized hepatology center GEPATIT.RU was founded in 2000 and brought together a team of some of the best hepatologists.
Our hepatologists have extensive experience in treating various liver diseases, especially such complex and dangerous ones as viral hepatitis.
Important
The liver performs many functions in the body, and since disruption of the normal functioning of the liver can be life-threatening, any reasons leading to its damage require careful study.
First of all, the hepatologist must make a diagnosis, determine the degree of liver damage and the cause that caused these pathological changes.
The inflammatory process in the liver is called hepatitis. The disease can be caused by viruses A, B, C, alcohol, toxic effects on the liver of various agents: chemicals, environmental factors, drugs. In addition, an autoimmune process and some hereditary liver diseases can have serious consequences for the liver.
Sometimes an inflammatory process in neighboring organs - the pancreas or gallbladder - causes an inflammatory process in the liver (reactive hepatitis). An extremely dangerous cause of liver damage, which has been spreading especially rapidly lately, is fatty hepatosis.
The natural course of most of these diseases (when treatment is not prescribed) often leads to the formation of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer.
Special laboratory and instrumental examinations available to modern medical science allow the hepatologist to make a timely diagnosis and accurately determine the true cause of the disease.
Most often, chronic liver diseases are asymptomatic, and only in an advanced stage do signs of the disease begin to appear. Acute forms, for example, acute viral hepatitis, in the overwhelming percentage of cases are characterized by jaundice, fever, chills, and symptoms of intoxication.
What is the reason to contact a hepatologist?
In most cases, the patient requires consultation with a hepatologist already at a late stage of the disease.
This is due to the fact that liver diseases are most often asymptomatic; the reason for contacting a hepatologist is discovered during tests and examinations related to other reasons, for example, the results of standard laboratory blood tests during hospitalization showed an increase in bilirubin, or the presence of hepatitis virus markers in the blood.
The reason for contacting a hepatologist may be:
- Detection of hepatitis B and C viruses in Croatia
- Increased blood levels of liver transaminases ALT and AST and bilirubin;
- Changes in the liver during ultrasound diagnostics
- Fatty liver degeneration (hepatosteatosis)
- Painful sensations in the liver area
Consultation with a hepatologist
During your consultation, the hepatologist will carefully examine your situation, answer all your questions regarding modern treatment methods, routes of transmission of the virus (for viral hepatitis), planning children, behavior in the family, etc., and also give the necessary recommendations.
We will help you cope with your worries and problems associated with a diagnosis of viral hepatitis. You and I will solve the problem together. On your side are the most experienced hepatologists, professors, doctors and candidates of science.
Hepatologist consultation:
- from 9:00 to 15:30 on weekdays
Sign up by phone
+7 (495) 255-10-60
Your first step is a free consultation. Call and come!
Diagnostics
To assess the condition of the liver, a hepatologist has many methods in his arsenal: biochemical tests characterizing the condition of liver cells - structural and functional, ultrasound diagnostics describing not only the inflammatory process in the liver, but also assessing blood flow, which indirectly indicates the degree of liver damage. Recently, new methods for assessing the severity of liver damage have appeared in the arsenal of modern medical science - FIBROSCAN, FIBROMAX, FIBROTEST.
You can get tested:
- from 9:00 to 17:30 on weekdays
- from 9:00 to 15:00 on Saturday
Sign up by phone
+7 (495) 255-10-60
Most often, treatment of any chronic liver disease is a long process. Therefore, some kind of personal relationship usually develops between a hepatologist and his patients. An attentive, caring, competent and tactful doctor helps the patient undergo a difficult course of treatment, achieving the maximum possible effect, even when the prognosis for recovery does not guarantee success.
All patients of our center constantly feel cared for by their attending hepatologist. Throughout the course, the hepatologist carries out continuous monitoring based on the patient’s well-being and tests, for the safety and effectiveness of treatment.
If you need to consult a hepatologist, make an appointment.
Source: https://www.gepatit.ru/fcm-personal/gepatolog/
What kind of doctor treats the liver - what is the name of who deals with it and checks it
Symptoms of liver damage are quite numerous. When they appear, people behave differently. Some ignore the onset of the disease, others begin to self-medicate. The most conscientious think about going to a specialist. The question arises: who to go to with such a problem? Which doctor treats the liver?
It is logical to start your initial visit to the hospital with a therapist. This specialist has sufficient knowledge and skills to suspect liver damage and make a preliminary diagnosis. He has available laboratory and instrumental research methods at his disposal.
Liver diseases can be an accidental discovery precisely after these examinations. This is explained by the absence of specific complaints in the initial stages of the pathology; during this period the organ does not hurt due to its structural features.
Correct interpretation of the results obtained will allow us to determine further tactics for patient management. If the process does not threaten the patient’s life, does not involve other organs and systems, and does not require further examination or hospital treatment, then the doctor himself can prescribe rational therapy.
A gastroenterologist deals with combined pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract. Patients whose condition requires clarification are also referred to him.
Often patients cannot determine which organ in the abdominal cavity hurts. Thanks to a complex of in-depth laboratory and instrumental diagnostic techniques, the localization and nature of the pathology are significantly clarified.
Consultation with this doctor is necessary in case of digestive dysfunction.
Dyspeptic disorders can be a symptom of severe liver damage due to hepatitis or cirrhosis, or a separate pathology of the pancreas or gall bladder.
Pathogenetically based therapy will help improve the patient’s condition, normalize the functional activity of damaged organs and slow down further progression of the disease.
If the disease is isolated, then such a patient will be treated by a hepatologist - a doctor who specializes in the problems of this organ. Due to the functional connection of the liver and gallbladder, their pathology is considered together.
The list of diseases for which people turn to a hepatologist is very extensive. These can be: hepatitis of various etiologies (viral, toxic, autoimmune), cirrhosis, cholecystitis, congenital pathology of the liver and gallbladder, neoplasms in these organs.
Almost all patients with such lesions require hospital treatment.
For this purpose, specialized hepatology centers have been organized. There, patients can undergo specialized laboratory and instrumental examinations to make a final diagnosis. Indeed, depending on the severity of the lesion (hepatosis, hepatitis, cirrhosis), adequate therapy is prescribed.
There are currently 6 types of viral hepatitis known. Some of them have a good prognosis (A and E). The rest (B, C, D, G) often lead to chronicity of the process and the development of complications - cirrhosis, carcinoma.
Symptoms of the disease are similar for all types of hepatitis and do not depend on its name. The patient has pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice appears, a rash on the skin, the color of urine and feces changes. If these signs appear, you need to contact an infectious disease specialist.
Treatment of such hepatitis is carried out in a hospital. An infectious disease specialist prescribes antiviral therapy that acts on the cause of the disease. In this case, it is necessary to monitor the functional state of the liver. Very often, an active inflammatory process leads to liver failure.
Complications of cirrhosis include bleeding from dilated veins of the esophagus. If such a condition develops, urgent hospitalization in a surgical hospital is necessary. There, specialists carry out a complex of hemostatic measures, starting with infusion therapy and ending with the installation of a special probe that mechanically compresses the damaged vessels.
Surgeons deal with another complication of liver disease – ascites. Excess fluid is usually removed with diuretics. If ascites does not respond to drug treatment, then paracentesis is performed: using a special tube inserted into the abdominal cavity, excess exudative fluid is pumped out.
In recent years, the number of cancer pathologies has increased significantly.
Liver cancer is the 5th most common cancer. Moreover, the primary process that begins in hepatocytes is rare. This is mainly metastatic cancer from the intestines, pancreas, and lungs.
- The risk of developing an oncological process in the liver increases with cirrhosis, alcohol abuse, toxic hepatitis, cholelithiasis, and sexually transmitted infections.
- Oncologists provide specialized care to such patients.
- In addition to highly accurate diagnostics (tumor markers, targeted biopsy), they perform an algorithm of treatment measures: chemotherapy, surgical removal of the tumor, radiofrequency ablation, etc.
If you have pain in the right hypochondrium and there are other symptoms of liver disease, do not waste time, consult a specialist. The earlier the correct diagnosis is made, the greater the chances of a positive outcome of the disease.
The liver is a real factory for cleansing the body, which removes all harmful substances. It is with the help of the liver that all decay products are removed, and it also synthesizes useful substances that are actively involved in metabolism.
Before answering the question about which doctor treats the liver, let's find out in more detail why this organ is considered vital and why a person needs to closely monitor its normal functioning.
Main laboratory
Doctors have long proven that the liver plays an irreplaceable role in the digestion process. Our liver:
- participates in the synthesis of bile, without which the process of digesting food in the small intestine is impossible.
- produces immunoglobulin, which actively protects the human immune system.
- rids the body of decay products and various poisons (detoxification function).
- renews blood cells by destroying red blood cells and synthesizing albumin proteins.
- serves as a storage place for energy reserves and the accumulation of certain vitamins.
- synthesizes many enzymes and other compounds, thanks to which the digestion process occurs, as well as metabolism.
An experienced doctor who treats the liver must know all the features of this important organ and take into account all the nuances so as not to cause harm during treatment.
Many of us do not know which doctor treats the liver, and if we have pain in the right side, we often first turn to a gastroenterologist. In principle, this is the right step, because pain in the right side can also occur with stomach diseases, ulcers, problems with the gallbladder, and so on. If an experienced gastroenterologist discovers that you still have liver problems, he will refer you to a hepatologist.
A liver specialist is called a “hepatologist,” and the etymology of this word is easily explained. After all, the word “liver” is of Greek origin and sounds like “hepar”. "Hepatos" is the Greek word for liver, and "logos" is translated as teaching.
Combining these two terms, we got the name “hepatology,” which was used to name an entire branch of medical science.
Hepatology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases that are associated with the gallbladder and bile ducts, as well as liver problems.
By the way, the well-known disease hepatitis also comes from Greek roots. Now we know which doctor treats the liver - a hepatologist.
The vital organ, the liver, is susceptible to many diseases that cannot be left to chance and must be treated on time. It’s even better to prevent the disease and avoid complications.
A hepatologist treats the following diseases:
- various forms of hepatitis (toxic, viral, autoimmune);
- cirrhosis caused by various reasons;
- acute and chronic cholecystitis;
- congenital diseases;
- tumors and neoplasms that are benign or malignant.
As soon as you feel the slightest ailment in the liver area, as soon as you have doubts that something is wrong with this important organ, you should immediately go to a hepatologist, because you know which doctor treats the liver, and it is this specialist who will thorough diagnosis and prescribe treatment.
It is clear that even the most experienced hepatologist cannot determine the disease by eye or using the sensations described by the patient. And we already live in the 21st century, when with the help of modern research it is possible to make a diagnosis quite accurately and quickly.
If necessary, the doctor will recommend the following types of diagnostic examinations to the patient:
- Ultrasound examination (ultrasound) of the abdominal organs;
- blood tests for biochemical composition;
- MRI of the abdominal organs;
- esophagoscopy (EGD);
- colonoscopy.
And only after these data, which are very accurate, will the doctor be able to make a diagnosis and develop treatment tactics.
What diseases most often affect our liver? Doctors name three diseases that occur most often. These are cholecystitis, hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.
Hepatitis can be avoided by following basic hygiene rules and not drinking contaminated water. Hepatitis is an inflammatory disease. A virus enters the body and causes the disease.
Hepatitis can also develop due to alcohol abuse.
Cholecystitis usually occurs against the background of inflammation of the gallbladder. The body's metabolism is disrupted, the bile ducts become clogged, and inflammation develops due to stagnation of bile.
Liver cirrhosis is a more serious and severe disease. As a rule, it develops after prolonged use of alcohol, when the liver can no longer cope with the removal of toxins. But untreated hepatitis can also lead to cirrhosis.
Treatment methods
Only by the results of the diagnosis can you often understand which doctor to contact when your liver hurts, and what tactics to choose for treatment. Depending on the type of disease and the degree of organ damage, conservative therapy or surgical intervention is prescribed.
Hepatoprotectors are drugs that help restore the liver. They establish metabolism and its functionality, and at the cellular level they recreate what was destroyed by medications, viruses or alcohol. The list of medications consists of phospholipids, dietary supplements, homeopathic remedies, bile derivatives and amino acids.
Depending on the condition and etiology of the disease, hormones, antiviral and antioxidant drugs are also prescribed. If disorders are diagnosed at an early stage, then proper nutrition and supportive therapy are sometimes sufficient to restore the functionality and health of the organ.
Surgical
The surgical method is the main and most effective method of treating malignant liver diseases. The volume of intervention is determined by the stage of the disease and the localization of the process. Since the removal of part of the organ sharply reduces the functionality of the gland, this affects the general condition of the patient. Therefore, the main indications for surgery are:
- single formation of small size;
- absence of damage to the vascular system.
The help of a surgeon is also needed in the following cases:
- blockage of the bile ducts;
- vein blockage (Budd-Chiari syndrome);
- rupture of liver tissue in accidents;
- for ascites (for puncture);
- to remove the cyst.
Source: https://5059696.ru/blog/kakoy-vrach-proveryaet-pechen/
Hepatologists about liver treatment
Hepatology - (from the Greek hēpar, hēpatos - liver and Greek logos - teaching, science) - a branch of medicine that studies the liver, gall bladder, bile ducts, their structure and functions, their diseases and methods of their treatment.
Refers to one of the sections of gastroenterology. Our highly qualified specialists can help you if you are concerned about diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and diseases of the liver and biliary tract.
There is even a special diet for diseases of the biliary tract.
If you ask several people far from medicine the question “Why do we need a liver?”, most will remember something about the body’s biochemical factory. It should be noted that they will not be far from the truth. A similar question addressed to a doctor who does not specialize in liver diseases will cause the latter to plunge into thought, although not for long.
The interlocutor will probably point out the participation of the liver in the metabolism of vital substances, the role of a biological filter, and the production of bile. In response to a request to highlight the main functions of the liver, addressed to a specialist - a hepatologist (from Lat.
hepar - liver), most likely there will be a lengthy story, interspersed with pauses to think about the optimal formulation of the thought.
Treatment of liver diseases
Judgments about the spectrum of diseases affecting the liver are distributed in a similar way.
We still hear from doctors of various specialties that essentially only three independent, that is, unrelated, pathological processes can develop in this organ: hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and cancer, as well as metabolic syndrome or “fatty liver”. Unfortunately, in accordance with these ideas, the diagnosis is formulated and treatment of liver diseases .
Making an appointment with a gastroenterologist is now easy!
make an appointment with a gastroenterologist at the hepatitis center by calling: +7 499 246-44-50.
Our Institute of Hepatology in Moscow is located at the address: Malaya Pirogovskaya street, building 1, in order not to get lost and not be late for an appointment with a specialist, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with the directions to the medical center at the Frunzenskaya metro station, you must get off and then follow the instructions.
119435, Moscow, Malaya Pirogovskaya st., 1a.
The site belongs to the Polyclinic of the Federal State Budgetary Institution FNKTs FHM FMBA of Russia. Publication only with the permission of the clinic management. License No. FS-99-01-008219
Hepatologists in Moscow
Bella Leonidovna Lurie provides consultations at our center! During a free anonymous consultation, we will analyze your situation, study the tests you already have, and give accessible explanations and recommendations for the examination. We are waiting for you today!
Sign up by phone or through the sign up form on the website. You can also come to us at any convenient time without an appointment.
Our hepatologists
Reisis Ara Romanovna
Tsurikova Nelly Nikolaevna
Ignatova Tatyana Mikhailovna
What does a hepatologist treat?
A hepatologist is a doctor who treats liver diseases.
The most common diseases for which people consult a hepatologist are:
- Acute and chronic hepatitis (viral hepatitis B and hepatitis C)
- Fatty liver disease (liver steatosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Alcoholic liver damage (alcoholic hepatitis)
- Gilbert's syndrome
- Hemochromatosis
- Cirrhosis of the liver (most often a consequence of advanced diseases)
Liver diseases are caused by a variety of causes, each of which requires a different approach to treatment. For some liver diseases, such as chronic viral hepatitis, existing standard antiviral therapy can have serious and dangerous side effects, which requires the hepatologist to have the knowledge and experience to make innovative decisions .
The specialized hepatology research center GEPATIT.RU was founded in 2000 and brought together a team of some of the best hepatologists in Moscow.
- We have hepatologists with extensive experience in treating various liver diseases, especially such complex and dangerous ones as viral hepatitis.
- The liver performs many different functions in the body, and any reasons that led to its damage require careful study, since disruption of the normal functioning of the liver can be life-threatening.
- First of all, the hepatologist must make a diagnosis, determine the degree of liver damage and the reason that caused these changes.
The inflammatory process in the liver is called hepatitis. Hepatitis can be caused by viruses A, B, C, alcohol, toxic effects on the liver of various agents: chemicals, environmental factors, drugs. In addition, an autoimmune process and some hereditary liver diseases can have serious consequences for the liver.
Sometimes an inflammatory process in neighboring organs - the pancreas or gallbladder - causes an inflammatory process in the liver (reactive hepatitis). An extremely dangerous cause of liver damage, which has been spreading especially rapidly lately, is fatty hepatosis.
The natural course of most of these diseases (without treatment) often leads to the formation of liver cirrhosis and primary liver cancer.
Special examinations available to modern medical science allow the hepatologist to accurately determine the true cause of the disease.
Most often, chronic liver diseases are asymptomatic, and only in an advanced stage do signs of the disease begin to appear. Acute forms, for example, acute viral hepatitis, in the overwhelming percentage of cases are characterized by jaundice, fever, chills, and symptoms of intoxication.
What is the reason to contact a hepatologist?
Due to the fact that liver diseases are most often asymptomatic, the reason for contacting a hepatologist is discovered during tests and examinations related to other reasons, for example, the results of standard tests during hospitalization showed an increase in bilirubin, or the presence of hepatitis virus markers in the blood.
The reason for contacting a hepatologist may be:
- Detection of hepatitis B and C viruses in Croatia
- Increased blood levels of liver transaminases ALT and AST and bilirubin;
- Changes in the liver during ultrasound diagnostics
- Fatty liver degeneration (hepatosteatosis)
- Painful sensations in the liver area
Consultation with a hepatologist
During your consultation, the hepatologist will carefully examine your situation, answer all your questions regarding modern treatment methods, routes of transmission of the virus (for viral hepatitis), planning children, behavior in the family, etc., and also give the necessary recommendations.
We will help you cope with your worries and problems associated with a diagnosis of viral hepatitis. We will solve your problems together. On your side are the most experienced hepatologists, professors, doctors and candidates of science.
Your first step is a free consultation. Call and come!
Diagnostics
To assess the condition of the liver, a hepatologist has many methods in his arsenal: biochemical tests characterizing the condition of liver cells - structural and functional, ultrasound diagnostics describing not only the inflammatory process in the liver, but also assessing blood flow, which indirectly indicates the degree of liver damage. Recently, new methods for assessing the severity of liver damage have appeared in the arsenal of modern medical science - FIBROSCAN, FIBROMAX, FIBROTEST.
Most often, treatment of any chronic liver disease is a long process. Therefore, some kind of personal relationship usually develops between a hepatologist and his patients. An attentive, caring, competent and tactful doctor helps the patient undergo a difficult course of treatment, achieving the maximum possible effect, even when the prognosis for recovery does not guarantee success.
All patients of our center constantly feel cared for by their attending hepatologist. Throughout the treatment, they provide continuous monitoring based on the patient’s well-being and tests to ensure the safety and effectiveness of treatment.
If you need to consult a hepatologist, make an appointment.
Liver doctor
In case of liver disorders, it is necessary to consult a doctor in a timely manner to prevent dangerous complications. The liver doctor palpates the damaged organ and assesses the patient’s condition.
The main specialist who deals with disorders of the organ or pancreas is called a hepatologist.
Also, adults are often seen by a gastroenterologist, infectious disease specialist, oncologist, surgeon and other highly specialized doctors who help assess the pathological changes that occur during the disease.
Why do diseases occur and how do they manifest themselves?
A hepatologist helps determine the name of the underlying disease that has affected the gallbladder or liver structures. The doctor also selects the necessary treatment to help normalize the functions of the organ.
Liver diseases occur quite often not only among adults; signs of the disease are often recorded in childhood. The following reasons can affect the impaired functioning of organs:
- incorrect metabolic processes;
- excessive intake of alcoholic beverages;
- a disease of viral origin, as a result of which hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver progress;
- long-term drug therapy that has a toxic effect on organs;
- severe food or chemical poisoning;
- internal organ failure;
- cancer disease.
If attacks of pain are repeated systematically, going to the doctor cannot be postponed.
When problems with the liver arise, you should not delay going to the doctor. The sooner the patient seeks help, the fewer complications will arise. Any liver disease is characterized by the following clinical symptoms:
- painful attacks in the right hypochondrium;
- increased body temperature;
- enlargement of an internal organ;
- constipation or diarrhea;
- attacks of nausea leading to vomiting;
- heartburn;
- constant feeling of weakness and malaise;
- headaches and dizziness;
- problems with appetite or its complete absence;
- increased sweat production and frequent swelling;
- itchy sensations on the skin, possible pathological rash;
- the appearance of a venous network on the epidermis of the abdomen;
- bitter taste in the mouth.
Source: https://otgepatita.ru/gepatologi-o-lechenii-pecheni/
Liver treatment. Hepatologist about popular myths
Lera Melnikova
In order to keep your liver healthy until old age, it is not necessary to categorically give up alcohol. Flickr
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Despite the fact that the liver is one of the most important organs in the human body, people know very little about its functions and features. Many of our ideas about the liver are outdated or simply wrong.
Professor at the University of California San Diego (USA) Tarek Hassanein dispels five common myths about the liver that he hears from patients every day as a doctor specializing in the treatment of viral hepatitis, fatty liver and cirrhosis.
Myth No. 1 If the liver is sick, it will not be possible to restore it completely, no matter how hard you try
In fact, up to a certain stage, the liver will forgive you everything. The point of no return is cirrhosis of the liver. Steatohepatitis , which precedes cirrhosis, is difficult to reversible, but still reversible.
Moreover, with the help of proper drug treatment and diet, the liver can be returned to its original position - made completely healthy. All thanks to her ability to self-heal.
Just imagine: half of your liver was cut off, and within two weeks it had grown to almost its full size. Isn't it a miracle?
Myth #2 I will have to give up alcohol completely if I want to have a healthy liver.
Of course, any doctor will say that ideally not drink alcohol at all. Because any amount of alcohol has a damaging effect on the gastrointestinal tract, especially the liver. Even the smallest things. Another question is that after 50 ml it will not be difficult for the digestive system to recover in a day or two. And the damage will disappear.
So the key to liver health (and overall health) is moderation . A glass of wine for a woman and two glasses for a man (not every day) will not cause liver problems in the short or long term.
Myth No. 3 You only need to take care of your liver unless it gets sick.
This way you can survive to cirrhosis and liver cancer, because the liver does not hurt until the most severe conditions. She gives subtle distress signals.
Since this organ is responsible for cleansing toxins, a diseased liver begins to release more dangerous substances into the blood.
As a result, your immunity decreases, and you get sick more often, rashes appear on your skin, you feel a loss of strength, fatigue and apathy, and suffer from insomnia.
And even without all these symptoms, you should take care of your liver health.
Eat less fat, watch your weight, exercise, don’t abuse alcohol, and if you have a wild party with a river of champagne, take hepatoprotectors .
They: a) protect liver cells from the toxic effects of alcohol; b) will give the liver an additional resource to cope with the high load.
Myth No. 4 If my parents had liver problems, then I will have them too.
Yes, there is a hereditary factor - genetics plays a certain role in liver health. And this is just a reason to undergo early diagnosis and determine a lifestyle for yourself. The most important thing for the liver is what you eat and what you drink.
If you follow your diet, even if you are predisposed to liver diseases, you will be able to avoid them. The main thing is not to give up and not say: “What will happen will not happen. Heredity is to blame for everything.” The health of your liver is in your hands.
You inherit genes, but you don't inherit habits.
Myth No. 5 You only need to go to a gastroenterologist for liver problems
Of course, gastroenterologists are well versed in the functions, diseases and treatment of the liver, but still their attention is not only focused on it. Therefore, it is better to contact a hepatologist - a highly specialized specialist.
A doctor specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases of the liver, biliary tract, gallbladder and pancreas.
Such a doctor follows all the new developments in the treatment of liver pathologies and will probably be able to suggest something more effective than a gastroenterologist.
Source: https://vseopecheni.ru/news/samyie-populyarnyie-zabluzhdeniya-o-zdorove-pecheni/
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