The liver is a "silent" organ, damage often progresses for many years before symptoms appear. The question "who should see a liver doctor early and regularly?" is therefore very important if you want to detect early liver disease, cirrhosis or liver cancer.
Group of people with viral hepatitis B, C
People infected with chronic hepatitis B or C virus are at higher risk of diseases such as cirrhosis and liver cancer, far exceeding normal people. Guidelines from international organizations all suggest that this group of subjects needs to be monitored regularly.
In many cases, a liver ultrasound every 6 months is necessary to detect liver cancer early.
The US CDC has shown that people with chronic HBV are at higher risk of premature death from cirrhosis and liver cancer.
In particular, many people do not know that they have this virus if they do not conduct testing.
If you have been diagnosed with hepatitis B or C, have high viral levels and increased liver enzymes, discuss with your liver and gialty specialist about scheduling regular liver check-ups, performing an ultrasound, and having HBV DNA or HCV RNA test.
People with cirrhosis or high risk of cirrhosis
All patients with cirrhosis, regardless of the cause (such as viruses, alcohol consumption, fatty liver or autoimmune diseases...) need to be checked for liver cancer periodically. The European Aspiratory Society (EASL) recommends performing a regular abdominal ultrasound every 6 months for all patients with cirrhosis to detect liver cancer early.
Cases with prolonged liver enzymes, low platelet count, large tumors or signs of fibrosis on FibroScan machines should also consult a liver specialist to assess the risk of facing cirrhosis.
People who drink a lot of alcohol, are obese, have fatty liver, and have diabetes
People who regularly drink alcohol, are overweight, have large waistlines and have diabetes are prone to chronic hepatitis, leading to fatty liver and eventually cirrhosis.
The Mayo Clinic shows that metabolic fatty liver disease (MASLD) is very common in people with type 2 diabetes, and many of these patients do not realize that they have progressed liver damage.
You should have a liver check-up immediately if:
- You consume alcohol almost every day.
- Your BMI is 25 or higher, have a large belly and increased visceral fat.
- You are currently undergoing diabetes treatment or have problems with blood lipids.
Typically, your doctor will ask you for liver function tests, an ultrasound, and sometimes additional tests to assess your liver fibrosis.
People with a family history of liver cancer or hereditary liver diseases
If there is a person in your family who has had liver cancer, inform your doctor. Research has shown that family history is an important risk factor, especially for individuals who are also infected with hepatitis B virus.
In addition, some hereditary liver diseases such as Wilson's disease, iron overload (hemochromatosis) and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency can lead to cirrhosis if not detected promptly.
Mayo Clinic Labs emphasizes the importance of screening and early diagnosis of hereditary liver diseases to prevent serious damage to the liver in the late stages.
If you have a relative who has had rare liver disease or experienced early liver failure, discuss with your doctor the genetic basis of liver disease and whether you need a regular liver health check-up.
What does regular liver check-up usually include?
Depending on the risk level, doctors may recommend:
- Collecting information about medical history and habits of alcohol and drug use.
- Conduct a clinical examination of the liver and spleen.
According to the Mayo Clinic, blood tests will include liver enzymes (such as ALT, AST, GGT and ALP), assess blood clotting function, and test for hepatitis B and C viruses.
- Do a liver ultrasound to detect enlarged liver, fibrosis or tumor.
For people at high risk: need to undergo cancer screening. Do a liver ultrasound every 6 months and may be accompanied by alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) testing as recommended by many liver and gallbladder organizations.
If you are in one of these groups, don't wait until you have jaundice, weight loss or numbness in the lower right ribs to see a doctor for your liver condition.
Early detection contributes to improving treatment effectiveness and reducing the risk of cirrhosis as well as liver cancer.
The information in the article is for reference only, not a replacement for medical diagnosis or treatment.You should talk directly to your doctor for accurate advice that is suitable for your health condition.
