manifestations of liver disease
liver and gallbladder disorders
Jaundice in Adults
Jaundice in adults has many causes. Most causes involve disorders and drugs that Damage the liver Interfere with the flow of bile Trigger the destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis), thus producing more bilirubin than the liver can handle Themost common causesof jaundice are None Alcohol-Related Liver Disease None A blockage of a bile duct by a Gallstones (usually) or A Liver Injury Caused by Drugs to a drug or medicinal herb Overview of Hepatitis is liver inflammation that is usually caused by a virus but can be caused by an autoimmune disorder or use of certain drugs. Hepatitis damages the liver, making it less able to move bilirubin into the bile ducts. Hepatitis may be acute (short-lived) or chronic (lasting at least 6 months). Acute viral hepatitis is a common cause of jaundice, particularly jaundice that occurs in young and otherwise healthy people. When hepatitis is caused by an autoimmune disorder or a drug, it cannot be spread from person to person. Drinking large amounts of alcohol over a long period of time damages the liver. The amount of alcohol and time required to cause damage varies, but typically, people must drink heavily for at least 8 to 10 years. If the bile ducts are blocked, bilirubin can build up in the blood. Most blockages are caused by a gallstone, but some are caused by cancer (such as cancer in the pancreas or bile ducts) or rare liver disorders (such as Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC) or Some drugs, toxins, and herbal products can also damage the liver (see table Some Causes and Features of Jaundice ). Less common causes of jaundice include hereditary disorders that interfere with how the body processes bilirubin. They include Gilbert syndrome and other, less common disorders such as Dubin-Johnson syndrome. In Gilbert syndrome, bilirubin levels are slightly increased but usually not enough to cause jaundice. This disorder is most often detected during routine screening tests in young adults. It causes no other symptoms and no problems. Disorders that cause excessive breakdown of red blood cells (hemolysis) often cause jaundice (see Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and 