Liver problems can be worrying, but many causes are treatable when identified early. At The Physicians’ Clinic, we’re here to provide clear answers, supportive, personalised care and the right treatment to help protect your long-term health.
The liver is a large organ in the upper right abdomen, essential for overall health. It plays a key role in detoxifying the blood, producing proteins for growth and repair and generating enzymes and chemicals for digestion.
When the liver is damaged and its function impaired, the body can struggle to process waste or produce vital blood components, including proteins and clotting factors. Liver problems can arise from many causes, and our gastroenterology and hepatology specialists have extensive experience diagnosing and managing these conditions.
We can offer you expert assessment, investigation and management of all liver conditions. Using state-of-the-art tests, imaging and FibroScan®, we can help ensure accurate diagnosis and timely treatment, reducing or even reversing liver damage where possible.
Liver disease can be acute (sudden, recent onset) or chronic (develops slowly over time):
Checking your liver function is an important step in understanding how well your liver is working. Simple blood and imaging tests can give valuable insights into its health, even before symptoms appear. Liver function tests (LFTs) give an indication of how well your liver is functioning by measuring the levels of certain proteins and enzymes circulating in your blood. These include:
Abnormal LFTs may indicate liver problems, although early disease can be symptom-free and some abnormalities may occur without significant damage. Additional tests may include clotting checks, blood tests for viral or autoimmune causes and imaging (ultrasound, CT or MRI scans) to evaluate liver structure and detect fatty liver, scarring, bile duct obstruction or tumours.
FibroScan® is a non-invasive, painless scan we use to assess liver fibrosis (scarring), which may progress to cirrhosis. When combined with other tests, it allows accurate assessment of liver health and helps guide us to the most appropriate treatment for you.