| Hepatomegaly (an enlarged liver) indicates potentially | | | | Causes |
| reversible primary or secondary liver disease. This sign | | | | Causes of hepatomegaly may include: |
| may stem from diverse pathophysiologic mechanisms, | | | | Alcohol use |
| including dilated hepatic sinusoids (in heart failure), | | | | Congestive heart failure |
| persistently high venous pressure leading to liver | | | | Glycogen storage disease |
| congestion (in chronic constrictive pericarditis), | | | | Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) |
| dysfunction and engorgement of hepatocytes (in | | | | Hepatitis A |
| hepatitis), fatty infiltration of parenchymal cells causing | | | | Hepatitis |
| fibrous tissue (in cirrhosis), distention of liver cells with | | | | Treatment |
| glycogen (in diabetes), and infiltration of amyloid (in | | | | Hepatomegaly can be cured. Treatment depends on |
| amyloidosis). | | | | the cause of hepatomegaly. For example, abstaining |
| The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the | | | | from alcohol treats hepatomegaly caused by alcohol |
| lower edge of the ribs (costal margin) on the right side. | | | | abuse. In all cases, regardless of the cause, |
| In its normal state, the edge of the liver is thin and firm, | | | | appropriate medication can be taken to treat the |
| and it cannot be palpated (felt with the finger tips) | | | | underlying cause. Thanks to growing trust in herbal |
| below the edge of the costal margin. An enlarged liver | | | | treatments survival rates have improved over the |
| usually causes no signs or symptoms. If the liver | | | | years. Herbal formulations to treat various types of |
| enlarges quickly, it may be tender to the touch. | | | | liver problems have proven to be safe and very |
| Thirty-five patients were seen over a period of 50 | | | | effective without any side effects. |
| years. The signs and symptoms of organ distress | | | | The lower edge of the liver normally comes just to the |
| caused by hepatomegaly occurred in the lungs, | | | | lower edge of the ribs (costal margin) on the right side. |
| kidneys, gastrointestinal tract (GI), the inferior vena | | | | In its normal state, the edge of the liver is thin and firm, |
| cava (IVC), and the liver. A scoring scale reflecting | | | | and it cannot be palpated (felt with the finger tips) |
| organ compromise was developed, the scores ranging | | | | below the edge of the costal margin. If the liver |
| from 0 (0 compromise) to 10 (all 5 systems showing | | | | becomes enlarged enough that it can be palpated |
| evidence of impairment). Scores were derived for 32 | | | | below the costal margin, the patient may have |
| of 35 patients; 13 were 4 weeks old or under | | | | hepatomegaly. The diagnosis must be confirmed by an |
| (neonates) when first seen, and 19 were aged 1-12 | | | | imaging study of the liver. The liver is involved in many |
| months (infants). | | | | bodily functions, and is affected by a variety of |
| A positron emission tomography scan showed intense | | | | conditions, many of which result in hepatomegaly. |
| abnormal uptake in the liver and less specific uptake in | | | | The following drugs, medications, substances or toxins |
| the inframammary and bone marrow areas. A bone | | | | are some of the possible causes of Enlarged liver as |
| marrow showed reactive features with negative | | | | a symptom. This list is incomplete and various other |
| cytogenetics, making a myeloproliferative disorder | | | | drugs or substances may cause your symptoms. |
| unlikely. Two percutaneous liver biopsies and a | | | | Always advise your doctor of any medications or |
| mini-laparotomy with wedge biopsy and portal node | | | | treatments you are using, including prescription, |
| biopsy were performed. The liver biopsies excluded | | | | over-the-counter, supplements, herbal or alternative |
| lymphoma but all showed necrotizing granulomas with | | | | treatments. |
| infiltration of eosinophils. | | | | |