Enlarged liver - Treatments and drugs - Leukemia and Enlarged Liver Drugs and Medications

Enlarged liver - Treatments and drugs
Mayo Clinic

Feb. 28, 2008

Causes:

Many conditions may cause an enlarged liver, including:

* Alcohol abuse. Abusing alcohol may cause an enlarged liver.
* Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. This includes a range of conditions — such as fat accumulation in the liver followed by inflammation of the liver and the formation of fibrous tissue in the liver — which can affect people who drink little or no alcohol.
* Hepatitis. Hepatitis A, hepatitis B and hepatitis C are all contagious viral infections that affect your liver.
* Heart failure. Also called congestive heart failure, this condition means your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs.
* Liver cancer. Cancer of the liver is often metastatic cancer, which occurs when tumors from other parts of the body spread (metastasize) to the liver.
* Infections such as mononucleosis. Mononucleosis (mono) is an infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.
* Excessive iron in the body (hemochromatosis). This condition causes your body to absorb too much iron from the food you eat. The excess is stored in your organs, especially your liver, heart and pancreas. Sometimes the stored iron damages these organs, leading to life-threatening conditions such as cancer, heart problems and liver disease.
* Blood disorders such as leukemia. Leukemia is cancer of the white blood cells.

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Treatment of an enlarged liver depends on the cause.

* Alcohol abuse. If the enlarged liver is alcohol-related, it's essential to stop drinking alcohol. Discuss the best way to stop drinking with your doctor. Although liver damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, treatment can often help prevent further damage and reduce complications.
* Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Weight loss and exercise are often an essential part of treatment. It's also important to avoid alcohol and keep your cholesterol under control. If you have diabetes, manage your blood sugar carefully.
* Hepatitis. There's no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but the infection usually resolves. Medication may be recommended for hepatitis B or C. If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option.
* Heart failure. Various medications are used to treat heart failure. Some take the burden of extra fluid off the liver.
* Liver cancer. Depending on the type and stage of the disease and various other factors, liver cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
* Blood disorders. With hemochromatosis, regularly drawing blood can reduce the amount of iron the liver has to process. Treatment for leukemia is complex. Therapies may include chemotherapy and radiation.

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