What tests are involved when someone has liver problems?
Alcohol-related liver disease is often first suspected when tests for other medical conditions show that the liver has been damaged.
This is because the condition causes few obvious symptoms in the early stages.
Nationally deaths from liver disease, which can be caused by excessive drinking, obesity and infection with hepatitis, have risen from 7,841 in 2001 to 10,948 in 2012.
It is the only major killer disease which is still rising in England. Across the rest of Europe it is decreasing.
There are a number of tests that can be carried out to determine your diagnosis.
Blood tests
Blood tests used to assess the liver are known as liver function tests. They can detect enzymes in your blood that are normally only present if your liver has been damaged.
Imaging tests / scans
An ultrasound scan,CT scan or MRI scan may also be carried. These scans can produce detailed images of your liver. Some scans may also measure the stiffness of the liver, which is a good indication of whether your liver is scarred.
Liver biopsy
During a liver biopsy, a fine needle is inserted into your body. A small sample of liver cells is taken and sent to a laboratory to be examined under a microscope. The biopsy is usually carried out under local anaesthetic.
The sample can be used to determine the degree of scarring in the liver and the cause of the damage.
Endoscopy
An endoscope is a flexible tube with a light and a video camera at one end. During an endoscopy, the instrument is passed down your oesophagus and into your stomach.
Pictures of your oesophagus and stomach are transmitted to an external screen.
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