Enlarged Liver Symptoms

The liver, the largest internal organ, is responsible for a variety of body functions, including breaking down harmful substances and filtering wastes from the blood. An enlarged liver is a symptom of a disease rather than a disease itself.

Causes

• Causes of an enlarged liver include alcoholism, liver diseases or cancer, heart failure, mononucleosis infection, excessive iron in the body and leukemia.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of an enlarged liver can include right upper abdominal tenderness or pain, abdominal swelling, abdominal pain or fullness and yellowing of the eyes or skin. Sometimes an enlarged liver produces no symptoms.

Diagnosis

• An enlarged liver is diagnosed by a physical exam, blood tests, imaging studies and a biopsy. Not all tests will be indicated for every person.

Treatment

• Treatment of an enlarged liver is aimed at treating the underlying cause. Possible treatments of an enlarged liver can include stopping alcohol consumption, weight loss and medications.

Prevention

• Certain actions can prevent liver damage, such as following recommended medication dosages, not mixing alcohol with medications, avoiding direct contact with other people's blood or bodily fluids, limiting contact with toxins and avoiding herbs or supplemental medications that can cause liver damage.