Hepatomegaly always indicates that the organ is susceptible to some disease. Therefore, an important role is played by proper diagnosis, if there is an increase in the liver - the causes of the pathological condition can be quite serious and threaten with complications in the form of replacement of the parenchyma with a connective tissue or the gradual death of cells.
The cause of liver enlargement in humans
All factors provoking hepatomegaly can be conditionally divided into three subgroups:
- The first type includes diseases of the organ and its vascular bed. They can be diffuse and focal, to affect both the entire tissue and its individual parts.
- The second type is pathology of metabolism and storage functions of the body. Usually refers to the dysfunction of the production of enzymes, impaired absorption and assimilation.
- The third group of diseases is characterized by circulatory insufficiency (as a rule, according to the right gastric type). It flows in parallel with many heart diseases.
Let us consider in more detail.
Causes of an increase in the right and left lobe of the liver
At inspection it does not matter which part of the body exceeds the permissible size. Any increase in the liver can signal a variety of pathologies.
From the first variety:
- steatosis;
- hepatitis of various origin;
- echinococcosis ;
- cirrhosis;
- malignant or benign tumors;
- tuberculoma;
- alveococcosis;
- tuberculosis granulomatosis;
- liver cysts of a non-parasitic nature.
It should be noted that with reactive nonspecific and persistent chronic hepatitis, the organ is slightly enlarged.
Diseases of the second type:
- inborn violation of biological synthesis of glycogen;
- hemochromatosis (insufficient absorption of iron).
Pathologies from the third subgroup:
- atherosclerosis of large vessels;
- heart failure;
- angina pectoris.
The exact reasons why the liver is enlarged are revealed on ultrasound. In diagnosis, this study is important, since it allows to determine even false hepatomegaly (organ displacement slightly downward due to an increase in the right lung). In addition, this method provides a precise description of liver size, the degree of excess of normal parameters, the presence of inflammatory processes and the replacement of parenchymal cells with connective tissue.
The reasons for the increase in the size of the liver and spleen
The combination of hepatomegaly and splenomegaly occurs quite often, since these organs are united by a vascular bed, and liver function abnormalities often provoke pathological processes in the spleen.
The described problem arises in such diseases:
- thrombosis of the portal or splenic vein;
- thrombophlebitis;
- obliteration of vessels;
- endophlebitis;
- acquired or congenital defects of blood circulation in the hepatic veins;
- hepatocerebral dystrophy;
- amyloidosis;
- Gaucher's disease;
- malaria;
- syphilis;
- Infectious mononucleosis;
- abdominal tuberculosis;
- visceral leishmaniasis;
- septic endocarditis of prolonged course;
- brucellosis;
- paraproteinemic hemoblastosis;
- hemolytic anemia;
- lymphogranulomatosis ;
- leukemia;
- heart disease;
- chronic ischemic disease;
- constructive pericarditis.
With hepatitis, the spleen usually does not increase in size, except for exacerbations of a chronic type C disease and a medicamentous variety. With such kinds of pathology, intoxication of the body is too strong, which leads to splenomegaly, sometimes combined with inflammation of the surface of the mucous tissue of the organ.