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.
