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Liver Disorders
What are autoimmune liver disorders?
An autoimmune disorder is any reaction or attack of a person's immune system against its own organs and tissues. In the liver, the immune system can destroy liver cells and damage bile ducts. Chronic active hepatitis can be caused by an autoimmune disorder.
What are metabolic liver disorders?
Two main metabolic disorders affect the liver:
- hemochromatosis (Also called iron overload disease.) - characterized by the absorption of too much iron from food. The excess iron is stored throughout the body, including in the liver and pancreas. The excess iron can damage these organs. Hemochromatosis is a hereditary disease that can lead to liver disease, liver failure, liver cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. There are genetic tests for this disorder.
- Wilson's disease - characterized by the retention of too much copper in the liver. Instead of releasing the copper into the bile, the liver retains the copper. Eventually, the damaged liver releases copper into the bloodstream. This hereditary disease can cause damage to the kidneys, brain, and eyes, and can lead to severe brain damage, liver failure, and death.
