The liver, which is the largest internal organ, is located on the right side of the body and is protected by the ribs. The liver helps digest food, distribute nutrients, clean your blood and manufacture healing proteins. When the liver is not working properly, your body has difficulty absorbing vitamins and nutrients that provide energy and promote healing, forming blood clots when you are injured and removing waste products.
Some diseases and medications can damage the liver. If the damage is severe and permanent, you may need a liver transplant.
Common Liver Diseases Requiring Transplant
- Hepatitis A, B, & C
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Fatty liver (NASH) - Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis
- Alcoholic liver disease
- Cryptogenic cirrhosis
- Liver Cancer
- Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC)
- Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis (PSC)
- Sudden acute liver failure
Common Symptoms of Liver Disease
- Fatigue
- Excess abdominal fluid (ascites)
- Confusion due to high ammonia levels in your blood (encephalopathy)
- Jaundice
- Uncontrolled persistent itching
- Edema
- Bleeding from the esophagus, stomach or rectum
Remember, a liver transplant is a treatment – not a cure!
For more in-depth information about liver transplantation, please refer to our Liver Education Guide, or talk to our team about attending one of our Transplant Classes.
