Amy McMahon

New Frontiers in Hepatology Amy McMahon

Hepatology is a field of medicine which studies the pathologies of the liver, including their management and diagnosis. Hepatic disease or liver disease causes damage to the liver. They are majorly caused by viral or parasitic infections, alcohol overconsumption, obesity and metabolic syndrome, genetics and genetic disorders, etc. Certain signs of liver disease are jaundice, coagulopathy and thrombocytopenia, confusion and altered consciousness, ascites and bleeding symptoms. The assessment of the liver is possible through a variety of liver function tests. Imaging allows the examination of liver tissue and bile ducts. Ultrasound, transient elastography and magnetic resonance imaging are used to assess the condition. Liver biopsy is another definitive diagnostic test for liver disease. The treatment of each liver disease requires a unique therapeutic modality. Antiviral medications are generally prescribed for the treatment of hepatitis B. Steroid-based drugs are useful in autoimmune hepatitis, while venesection is a routine procedure in hemochromatosis. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches of hepatology. It unfolds the innovative aspects of hepatology which will be crucial for the progress in the understanding and management of liver diseases. The extensive content of this book provides the readers with a thorough understanding of the subject.