Diffuse changes in the echostructure of the liver. What do echo signs of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma mean? Forecast and preventive measures

Diffuse liver changes- a fairly common pathology encountered by patients of all age groups, including even children. Unlike focal lesions, they cover the entire organ, demonstrating various types of degeneration of the entire tissue. Read this article and watch the video. You will see a reasonable and natural approach to your problem!

Most often we are talking about fatty hepatosis or fibrosis. It is usually discovered accidentally on ultrasound or CT.

The difference in the degree of danger is huge! With fatty hepatosis, it is easy to return everything to normal.

If fibrosis is detected, then it is realistic to only support the body, but some of the cells have already been replaced by connective tissue.

A natural approach involves changing your diet and eliminating possible reasons damaging hepatocytes: accumulation of toxins, stagnation of bile, impaired metabolism of fats and carbohydrates. The idea of ​​the Sokolinsky System. Founded in 2002” is to take a comprehensive look at this situation.

In reality, there is no single “magic” remedy for the liver. It can only be helped simultaneously with all the organs with which it is physiologically connected. And then in 3-4 months you can enjoy the results of the ultrasound.

If the reason for the development is an infection, then the treatment of diffuse changes in the liver is already carried out by a doctor.

Diffuse changes in the liver - what is it?

What are diffuse liver changes It’s easy to explain even to a non-specialist: this is when not just one lobe is affected (as happens with a cyst, malignant tumor or injury), but several lobes at once and the organ, as a rule, increases in size.

Diffusion - translated means “spread”, “penetration”. In common parlance there is even such an expression liver diffusion is the popular name for a pathological change in the tissue (parenchyma) of the gland.

Pathology is not an independent disease and is most often considered in combination with disorders in gallbladder(for dyskinesia, stones, bile stagnation), for diabetes. It may also be a consequence of alcohol damage or remain after hepatitis, mononucleosis, opisthorchiasis.

The most likely scenario for damage to hepatocytes is chronic intoxication, etc. oxidative stress in combination with microflora disturbances and digestive disorders. Therefore, in the Sokolinsky System we always recommend starting with . It contains several natural remedies that enhance each other. Read this little book. You will understand how useful it can be systems approach and how everything works!

Damage to hepatocytes by drugs

According to pharmacoepidemiological studies (Biour M., Jaillon P. Drug-induced hepatic diseases. Pathol Biol (Paris), drug-induced liver damage is most often caused by paracetamol, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), antimicrobial drugs and drugs that affect nervous system(for example, sleeping pills, anticonvulsants, antidepressants). Among antibiotics, amoxicillin is one of the most popular.

The risk of intoxication when using amoxicillin/clavulanate is 5-9 times higher than the risk of damaging hepatocytes, for example, with amoxicillin. A quarter of all diffuse lesions after antibiotic treatment are caused by amoxicycline!

The likelihood of getting problems increases noticeably if there are additional factors affecting the special detoxification enzyme cytochrome P450. It is most strongly suppressed by rifampicin and antiepileptic drugs, as well as alcohol and smoking, as well as antifungals and antiretroviral drugs from the group of protease inhibitors.

How to understand how dangerous the complications for the liver are of what you are going to take. It is known that the use medicines, which are more than 50% metabolized in the liver, significantly more often increases the level of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) by more than 3 times, and taking such drugs more often caused cases of liver failure. Thus, the higher the number, the greater the risk.

And you can easily check your medicine cabinet for the risk of diffuse changes when taking one of the medications and their combinations. Each drug always has a “Pharmacokinetics” section in its instructions. It contains the treasured figure - how many percent it undergoes biotransformation or is metabolized in the liver.

Keep in mind that if you take two or more drugs with hepatotoxic effects at the same time, the risk does not increase linearly, but on average by 6 times, based on research.

Damage to liver cells due to disrupted microflora and oxidative stress

Currently, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (where changes are common) has become very common among adults. And oxidative stress is given the main role in the development of hepatitis against the background of fatty degeneration. The point is that the oxidation of fats produces free radicals that attack the cell wall of hepatocytes and damage it.

There are many natural remedies that have antioxidant properties. This includes vitamin E (tocopherol) and dihydroquercetin and selenium. But most in a simple way protection against oxidative stress is to take omega-3 acids from fish oil. They have systemic effects. Not only its hepatoprotective effect is widely known, but also its anti-inflammatory effect, which improves cell regeneration processes, brain nutrition, and protection against cardiovascular pathology. You need about 1 g of omega-3 acids per day. The duration of the course is at least three months. This is, for example, 2 capsules per day.

Many also forget the influence of intestinal microflora on the condition of hepatocytes. And it is huge. After all, all fat-soluble substances that are absorbed in the intestines first enter the liver. And the risk of diffuse changes greatly depends on the degree of internal intoxication. Also, the composition of intestinal bacteria directly affects the structure of bile and the likelihood of its constant stagnation. Finally, there are strains of microorganisms that have proven antioxidant activity and anti-inflammatory properties. For example, like lactobacterium fermentum ME-3 (as part of our branded probiotic Balance Advansd Probiotic).

In the article “Relationship between the liver and intestines against the background of an imbalance of the colon microflora” (P.V. Silvestrov and co-authors, St. Petersburg State medical Academy) you can find the following data:

The incidence of intestinal dysbiosis in patients with liver pathology is 100%

The severity of manifestations of liver pathology depends on the presence of dysbiotic disorders

Taking probiotics in complex treatment liver eliminates flatulence, pain syndrome, problems with stool, improves quality of life.

Therefore, rebiosis can and should be carried out. When you live in Russia, in our experience, best way- use after detox and against the background of increasing the amount of plant fiber.

In Europe and other countries - Balansa Andvansd Probiotic.

In any case, this process will take 2-3 months. But it will have a complex positive effect not only on the structure of the liver, but also on the general condition, energy, immunity, and skin. Modern probiotics are very different from what is widely sold in pharmacies. These are proven strains, of which there are 12-15, and not two or three. And they are able to really establish the correct microflora, which means at least reducing the toxic load on your liver.

Classification

Normally, the liver parenchyma has a homogeneous structure. This is what they usually write on an ultrasound.

Its cells (hepatocytes) have a highly specialized, intense metabolism and react painfully to any negative factors. As a result, the gland tissues can swell, increase in size, and undergo dystrophic, sclerotic and other transformations, which causes diffuse liver changes. Their severity may vary. Taking it into account, experts identify the following forms of pathology.

- Minor orslight diffuse changes in the liver- a fairly common phenomenon caused by exposure to negative factors. The presence of minor transformations may indicate the early stages of a disease or the onset of liver inflammation.

- Moderate diffuse changes in the liver- develop as a result of prolonged exposure to any unfavorable factors, for example, consumption of excessively fatty foods or alcohol. Their presence indicates a metabolic disorder and intoxication of the gland.

- Severe diffuse changes in the liver- characterized by significant enlargement and swelling of the parenchyma. Pronounced tissue transformation is characteristic of serious pathologies, for example, hepatitis, fatty liver, cirrhosis, etc.

Causes

The liver is a very “hardworking” organ that performs 32 functions. Toxic damage, disorders of fat and carbohydrate metabolism, infection can cause diffuse liver diseases. Most often they are due to the following reasons.

Regular consumption of alcoholic beverages in high doses or low quality alcohol.

Smoking, especially mixtures with added synthetic ingredients.

An unbalanced diet, with a predominance of heated animal fats, preservatives, dyes, and a deficiency of plant fiber.

Uncontrolled or long-term use of medications, especially antibiotics.

Previously suffered infectious or viral diseases.

Hormonal disorders, hormone intake.

Obesity, including visceral obesity of the abdominal organs.

Diabetes.

Faced with them, a person automatically falls into a risk group. And if he does not carry out any preventive measures, then sooner or later he will be diagnosed with pathology.

It is important to know! Regardless of the reasons that caused the development of the pathology, they must be eliminated. You need to change your lifestyle and diet, cure the underlying disease or alleviate its course, reducing the risk of complications. IN otherwise diffuse liver changes will progress.

Symptoms of the disease

The earlier the pathology is detected, the greater the chances for successful restoration of the gland - both specialists and patients themselves understand this very well. But the problem is that it develops almost asymptomatically, which is very typical for all liver diseases and organ damage. Naturally, this complicates the early diagnosis of parenchymal transformations.

Usually, signs of diffuse liver changes do not have specific clinical manifestations. Therefore, in most cases, pathology is diagnosed accidentally - during a general examination of the body or ultrasound of the abdominal organs. Still, there are a number of symptoms that are worth paying attention to. They cannot be ignored, and you should immediately seek help from specialists.

Discomfortable sensations in the right hypochondrium - pain, bloating, heaviness, pressure, burning.

Enlargement or asymmetry of the abdomen.

Yellowness of the sclera and skin.

Bitter taste in the mouth.

General weakness, fatigue, weakness, decreased performance.

Unreasonable nausea, vomiting, stool upset, lack of appetite.

Changes in the color of stool and urine.

Fluctuations in body weight.

Deterioration of psycho-emotional state, irritability, frequent mood swings.

Spontaneous fluctuations in temperature or blood pressure.

Rashes, itchy skin, deterioration of skin and hair.

Headaches, poor sleep.

Fragility of blood vessels, bleeding, for example, from the nasal cavity.

These signs are subjective - they may be present, absent, or have individual severity. If the occurrence of pathology is associated with diseases of other organs, then the clinical picture changes towards signs of the underlying disease. And in case diffuse changes in the liver such as steatosis, hepatosis and other gland lesions, the symptoms will be vague and resemble a general malaise of the body. A thorough diagnosis will help determine their nature.

Diagnostics

As we have already noticed, diffuse liver changes can be detected during an ultrasound examination of the abdominal organs - the gland will look heterogeneous, enlarged, have an uneven pattern of blood vessels, and others characteristic features. But to identify the cause of parenchymal transformations and make a final diagnosis, ultrasound alone is not enough. Therefore, diagnostics are carried out comprehensively, which involves the use of the following laboratory and instrumental methods.

General and biochemical analysis blood and urine.

Liver tests.

MRI.

CT scan.

X-ray examination of the peritoneum.

Much attention is paid to collecting the patient's medical history. After all, information about the presence of diseases, lifestyle, and diet can help identify the root cause of transformations and accurately diagnose diffuse enlargement of the liver, which will greatly facilitate the choice of treatment methods.

Treatment. Can I use natural remedies?

Is it possible to cure diffuse liver changes?? Let's start with the fact that it is not the changes themselves that will have to be treated, but the underlying disease that caused the pathology. Subject to successful treatment, the absence of complications, and compliance with recommendations regarding lifestyle and nutrition, minor and moderate transformations of the parenchyma are completely reversible. And in case of serious complications, organ transplantation is possible.

So, How or treat diffuse liver changes? Firstly, the cause of their appearance is eliminated. At the same time (or after this), restoration of the functions and parenchyma of the gland begins. Thus, treatment is carried out comprehensively.

Natural remedies cannot legally be called medicine or treatment. Therefore, we are talking about influencing the causes in the area of ​​microflora disorders and chronic intoxication.

1. Use a systematic approach -Complex for fatty hepatosis

2. If for some reason this is difficult or expensive for you, you can simply drink our main “liver remedy” for 2 months in a row.Liver 481 caps. 2 times a day, and then throughout the year 4 times a month omega-3 acids Megapolynol (1 capsule per day) and phospholipids LecithinUM 1 teaspoon. spoon a day

The idea is that this organ is quite capable of self-healing if normal conditions are provided for its work.

In addition to reception drugs for the treatment of diffuse liver changes, you must follow a diet - this is a prerequisite for recovery. You can read about this further! In the meantime, watch the video - you will understand why this natural remedy is the main one for hepatosis in the Sokolinsky System.

Diet

After the final diagnosis is made, the patient is recommended to adhere to a diet - as a rule, this is table No. 5. His diet includes a reduction in the amount of fatty foods and a rational ratio of proteins and carbohydrates. The following dishes may be included.

Lean meats.

Vegetables.

Fruits low in sugar and acids.

Low-fat fermented milk products.

Lenten broths, soups.

Whole grain porridge.

Diffuse liver changes require increased attention. You need to be prepared for the fact that you will need to give up “snacks when and how you have to.” You will need to eat frequently, in small portions - up to 6 times a day. Food should be at room temperature or slightly warm. The preferred methods of cooking food are steaming, baking or boiling.

It is important to know! Fried, smoked, canned and spicy foods are not allowed. It is necessary to exclude from the diet all products with food “chemicals” - dyes, thickeners, stabilizers, preservatives, etc. Coffee, chocolate and especially alcoholic drinks are prohibited.

Forecast. Risk

On our own diffuse liver changes do not pose a threat to the patient's life. With timely treatment and compliance with all recommendations, the prognosis is favorable.

The risk of complications is associated with the nature and course of the underlying disease that caused the pathology.

The most unpleasant outcome of 5-8 years of changes without proper attention is cirrhosis or tumor.

A less unpleasant prognosis without treatment is the development of cysts.

Prevention

A healthy lifestyle in every sense is the best prevention of this type of pathology. It is necessary to eat right, refrain from excess alcohol and smoking, walk at least 30 minutes every day, control body weight, have enough vegetables in your diet every day and a minimum of heated animal fats, cleanse yourself using natural remedies.

How to learn to solve several health problems at the same time and simply?

We have already been taught that for every single symptom there is a cure. And this is correct when you are in the hospital or are faced with an acute illness. But if your goal is to improve health and improve performance, everything will be exactly the opposite. Everything in the body is connected and eliminating symptoms does not lead to a solution to health problems, but only masks them. Real changes come from addressing the causes of poor health.

If you want to feel better, influence the body using deep universal mechanisms that simultaneously eliminate similar disorders in different organs: correcting nutrition, a reasonable lifestyle, detox, nutrition and protection of nerve cells, restoration of microflora, normalization of digestion, natural anti-inflammatory agents and antioxidants .

The Sokolinsky System offers a systemic naturopathic approach based on a deep understanding of physiology, modern research, and has been tested in practice by more than 10,000 people since 2002.

Natural products are produced specifically for use in the Sokolinsky System.

THEY ARE NOT A MEDICINE!

The system was developed by a famous Russian nutritionist, Doctor of Naturopathy (ND), MSc, Vladimir Sokolinsky, Vice-President of the European Academy of Evidence-Based Naturopathy, author of 11 books on natural medicine, member of the National Association of Nutritionists and Dietetics, Scientific Society of Medical Elementology, American Association of Practicing Nutritionists.

Diffuse changes in the liver are a common pathological condition, which is characterized by the development of transformations of gland tissue. The danger is that the disease develops even with minor disorders and is not uncommon among children.

The main reason for diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma is the occurrence of some pathology on the part of the hepatobiliary system. Among the predisposing factors are diseases of other internal organs.

The clinical picture is nonspecific - typical for most diseases affecting the liver. Some people are completely asymptomatic (if there are moderate diffuse changes in the liver). The main clinical signs are changes in the color of urine and feces, skin itching and rashes.

The basis of diagnostic measures is instrumental procedures. This is due to the fact that studies show specific echo signs that may indicate etiology. Laboratory tests and doctor’s manipulations are of an auxiliary nature.

For any changes in the liver, treatment will be dictated by the inciting source. In some cases, medication and diet therapy are indicated, and in others, surgical intervention is indicated.

Etiology

Diffuse changes in the liver act as a secondary pathological condition, that is, they cannot be an independent disease. Among the main diseases that cause diffuse changes in the liver are:

• fat or alcohol disease;
• or ;
• neoplasms of a malignant or benign course;
• adverse effects of pathogens;
• the course of portal hypertension;
• spreading ;
• Availability overweight bodies;
• metabolic disorders;
• poor nutrition;
• wide range diseases of an autoimmune or infectious nature;
• taking medications for no apparent reason or in violation of the recommendations of the attending physician;
• following excessively strict diets;
• severe intoxication chemicals, medications or alcohol;
• disruption of the functioning of the endocrine system, in particular the thyroid gland;
• long-term chemotherapy or radiotherapy;
• long-term addiction to bad habits.

Provocateurs include family history - a predisposition to one of the liver diseases.

Diffuse changes in the liver are not uncommon even for children. In such cases, the immediate cause is:

• primary pathologies of the hepatobiliary system - which arose during the period intrauterine development;
• long-term use of antibiotics by a child medicinal purposes;
• development or exacerbation in a woman during pregnancy.

Pathology can develop in older people. The provocateur is often the presence of a chronic disease, which is most typical for old age.

Classification

Diffuse changes in the structure of the liver have several degrees of severity - this is the main classification:

• pronounced - in most situations they arise against the background of the development of oncology, viral hepatitis, alcoholic illness or fatty degeneration, and the cause can only be eliminated through surgical intervention;
• moderate - a consequence of poor nutrition, chemical poisoning, metabolic disorders and endocrine pathologies, and for treatment it is necessary to take medications, follow a gentle diet and undergo a blood cleansing procedure;
• minor - they may not make themselves felt for a long time; children have mild symptoms.

The pathological process can be localized in any part of the liver. The lesion may be located in the following locations of the organ:

• parenchyma;
• textile;
• duct wall.

The possibility of involvement of nearby internal organs, including the kidneys, pancreas and spleen, cannot be excluded.

According to the nature of the course, diffuse changes in the liver are:

• heterogeneous;
• dystrophic;
• reactive.

The main ones in the diagnostic process are instrumental procedures (MRI, CT and ultrasound), indicating the presence of specific echo signs, which are:

• infiltration;
• local;
• focal.

Symptoms

Diffuse damage to an organ of the hepatobiliary system is characterized by the absence of specific clinical signs that would accurately indicate the course of a specific disease. The symptoms of the disorder are pronounced and cannot be ignored.

Main symptoms of the disease:

• varying degrees of intensity - pain is localized in the area under the right ribs;
• an increase in the size of the liver - hepatomegaly, which is easily detected by palpation of the abdomen;
• the appearance of a bitter taste in the mouth;
• loss of appetite and complete aversion to fatty foods;
• the appearance of a white, yellow or gray coating on the tongue;
• weakness and weakness;
• increased fatigue and decreased ability to work;
• emotional instability;
• attacks of headaches;
• nausea - present on an ongoing basis and practically does not cause vomiting;
• increase in abdominal size;
• release of large amounts of gases;
• discoloration of feces and dark urine;
• yellowness of the skin, sclera and mucous membranes;
• severe skin itching;
• rashes resembling hives;
• tendency to swelling;
• violation menstrual cycle among women;
• decreased libido in men;
• fluctuations in blood tone values;
• unnatural shine and stench of feces;
• frequent exposure to colds and infectious diseases as a result of weakening immune system;
• slight increase in temperature;
• exhaustion of the body.

Symptoms in adults or children are often supplemented by external manifestations of the underlying disease, which has caused diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma.

Diagnostics

The diagnostic process must necessarily take an integrated approach, since the gastroenterologist does not have enough information about the clinical course of the disease.

Primary diagnosis includes the following steps:

• studying the medical history of not only the patient, but also his close relatives - in some cases this will accurately indicate the main etiological factor;
• collection and analysis of life history;
• condition assessment skin, mucous membranes and sclera;
• measuring body temperature and blood tone;
• deep palpation of the anterior wall of the abdominal cavity;
• a detailed survey will enable the clinician to establish when signs of diffuse liver changes first appeared and with what degree of intensity they appear.

The most informative laboratory tests:

• general clinical blood and urine tests;
• blood biochemistry;
• liver tests;
• coprogram;
• serological tests;
• PCR tests;
• bacterial culture of blood and stool.

Diffuse focal changes in the liver can be detected using the following instrumental procedures:

• Ultrasound of the liver;
• radiography of the peritoneum;
• endoscopic biopsy.

A diagnosis can be made with accuracy only in cases where the patient has the following echographic signs:

• heterogeneity of tissue structure;
• increased echo density;
• hepatomegaly;
• disruption of the pattern of blood vessels;
• different hepatic lobes show different echogenicity;
• sealing of periportal valves;
• rapid attenuation of the ultrasonic signal.

Treatment

The diagnosis of “diffuse changes in the liver” is a direct indication for immediate therapy, which can be conservative or surgical. First of all, clinicians turn to inoperable methods.

• antiviral substances;
• antibiotics;
• hepatoprotectors;
• phospholipids;
• amino acids;
• vitamin and mineral complexes;
• medications aimed at relieving symptoms - painkillers, drugs to normalize blood pressure, eliminate nausea, etc.

Everyone, without exception, is advised to follow a gentle diet. Diet therapy involves avoiding the following foods:

• fatty meats, poultry and fish;
• fried, salted and spicy foods;
• fermented milk products with a high percentage of fat content;
• rich broths and first courses prepared on their basis;
• smoked meats and canned food;
• baked goods and fresh baked goods;
• offal and sweets;
• onion and garlic;
• spinach and sorrel;
• mushrooms;
• radish;
• mayonnaise;
• hot sauces;
• strong black tea;
• coffee;
• carbonated and alcoholic drinks.

In case of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma, consumption in any quantities is not prohibited:

• dried bread and biscuits;
• homemade jam and honey;
• non-acidic berries and fruits;
• vegetable purees;
• vegetarian or dairy soups;
• white omelet or soft-boiled eggs;
• vegetable and fruit salads;
• boiled sausage;
• dietary varieties of meat and fish;
• compotes and freshly squeezed juices;
• green tea and cocoa.

Use is not prohibited folk recipes medicine, but this should be done only after the approval of the attending physician. At home, you can prepare healing decoctions and infusions based on the following ingredients:

• oats;
• mint;
• corn silk;
• propolis;
• fennel;
• chamomile;
• Birch buds;
• yarrow;
• rose hip;
• pumpkin seeds;
• lingonberry leaves;
• calendula;
• apricot kernels.

In cases of the development of diffuse changes in the parenchyma, treatment with surgery is carried out according to individual indications:

• cystic, malignant and benign tumors;
• cancer metastasis;
• severe cirrhosis or hepatitis.

Surgical treatment consists of complete or partial removal of the liver and affected internal organs.

Possible complications

Regardless of the course (severe, minor or moderate diffuse liver damage), the disease can cause the following dangerous complications:

• And female infertility;
• syndrome;
• extensive internal hemorrhages;
• coma.

Prevention and prognosis

You can prevent the development of a condition such as diffuse changes in the liver by following general simple recommendations:

• lifelong renunciation of addictions;
• body weight control;
• healthy and nutritious nutrition;
• constant strengthening of the immune system;
• preventing the penetration of toxic and poisonous substances into the body;
• taking only those medications prescribed by the attending physician - always with strict adherence to the dosage and duration of use;
• early diagnosis and elimination of diseases that can lead to pathological changes in the liver;
• Regularly undergoing a complete preventive examination with visits to all specialists.

In itself, such a disorder does not pose a threat to the lives of patients. This means that the prognosis and risks of complications are dictated only by the underlying disease.

The diagnosis of diffuse changes in the liver made on ultrasound raises many questions, because in ICD-10 ( international classification diseases) there is no such diagnosis. However, this only means that a change in the structure of the organ has occurred, and this can be either functional fluctuations or a pathological dysfunction. In 80-90% of cases, adequate and timely treatment ensures complete recovery. But diagnosing such a process requires further careful diagnosis to determine the cause of the lesion.

What does it mean?

Medicine does not accept diffuse liver diseases as a separate diagnosis. Changes in the parenchyma of an organ are a symptom of another disease, and not an independent pathology. Diffusion is the connection of molecules with each other. Due to external influences, it may be disrupted. Thus, the homogeneity is damaged and abnormalities are formed in the tissue. If the parenchyma of the organ is changed, this indicates the need for further diagnostics in order to identify the underlying disease.

Types of pathology

Regarding the nature of tissue damage, the following pathologies are distinguished:

• fibrosis;
• hypertrophy;
• sclerosis;
• dystrophic changes;
• swelling.

Depending on the severity of the process, there are:

• Minor changes. The organ copes with the function of detoxification, which ultimately leads to death.
• Moderately diffuse transformation. Heterogeneity due to intoxication, bad habits. Also, viruses have a hepatotropic effect.
• Pronounced total changes. Accompanied by swelling of the parenchyma, the pathology is caused by diabetes mellitus, organ damage such as fatty hepatosis, and cancer.

It is also necessary to note some other types of pathology. Diffuse reactive changes in the liver are a dysfunction accompanied by pancreatitis and a reaction of the pancreas. Diffuse focal changes in the liver, affecting some areas of the organ, which alternate with reconstructed tissue, for example, in hepatitis with metastases.

Causes of diffuse liver changes

Long-term use of antibiotics provokes pathological changes in the liver.

Factors that provoke the pathological process include:

• congestive cholecystitis;
• bad habits;
• long-term use of antibiotics and other medications;
• viral diseases;
• cirrhosis;
• critical weight loss;
• heredity;
• secondary lesion (metastasis).

Diffusion changes include changes in the intrahepatic ducts that occur due to viral or bacterial damage to the organ or malnutrition. In some cases, other abdominal organs are also affected. Diffuse changes in the liver and pancreas cause metabolic disorders, acute and chronic infections, vascular diseases.

Features of the course in children

Newborns have the most common reasons lesions - congenital pathology and maternal diseases. If hepatitis is detected in pregnant women, artificial termination of pregnancy is recommended. Liver dysfunction in a child occurs due to antibacterial drugs and other medications. Medicines are very toxic to children's bodies.

Diagnosis of diffuse changes

Clinical tests will help show the overall picture of the disease.

Signs of diffuse changes in the liver are detected in the following studies:

• general blood analysis;
• biochemical research;
• OAM, coprogram;
• Ultrasound of the liver;
• organ x-ray;
• liver biopsy;
• if necessary - tumor markers;
• CT, MRI.

The main diagnostic method is ultrasound, which has a number of advantages: minimally invasive, ease of procedure, accessibility. Often, only this is enough to establish the etiology and severity of the process. Ultrasound reveals various echographic signs corresponding to the underlying disease.

Restructuring in fatty hepatosis

It can be detected using ultrasound if tissue changes are observed in more than 1/3 of the organ. Liver hepatosis is characterized by a diffuse increase in echogenicity, but sometimes it remains normal. There is also an enlargement of the liver and rounding of the edges. Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma, such as fatty infiltration, are better recognized when performing computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Without timely treatment, the pathology develops into cirrhosis.

Ultrasound diagnostics will help determine diffuse changes in the organ.

Diffuse changes in the liver are determined by diametrically opposed processes: some liver cells increase, and some atrophy. Therefore, echoscopically, the structure of the parenchyma is mosaic, diffusely heterogeneous, and the echogenicity is increased. At first, the liver is enlarged, but at the end of the disease, on the contrary, it decreases. The heterogeneous structure of the liver is explained by the formation of nodes. A thickening of the wall of the portal vein and collaterals is revealed.

Recognition of focal formations

The method is not suitable for differential diagnosis Oncological diseases, however, echo signs of simple cysts are specific. The cyst appears as an anechoic formation with a thin wall without suspensions or septa. Symptoms of complex cysts are observed with abscesses, tumors, and hemorrhages.

One of the symptoms that can be detected during an abdominal ultrasound is pneumobilia. These are small air bubbles in the lumen of the bile ducts, which look like hyperechoic inclusions. When examined, gas bubbles may move. This can be observed in the case of choledocholithiasis, changes in the gallbladder - inflammation, destruction of the wall - calcifications inside the cyst or calcified hematoma.

Transformation of the liver in hepatitis

Echo signs for such diseases are nonspecific; ultrasound cannot verify the diagnosis. An enhanced echo signal reveals an enlarged organ, structural changes vary, and ductal changes in the liver are diagnosed. After the technique, it is necessary to conduct laboratory tests to establish the disease. Ultrasound examination in such a situation provides an understanding of the echostructure of the liver, its homogeneity, diffuse or focal changes.

The liver is an organ that does not signal a disease for a long time. In most cases, gland pathologies appear during ultrasound diagnostics. When faced with the entry “diffuse liver changes” in the medical record, many patients panic because they do not understand what this means. However, DIP (diffuse liver changes) is not a diagnosis. This entry indicates various pathologies in the organ that provoke such a condition. Various studies will help identify them.

DIP can signal cirrhosis, hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, etc. Much depends on the degree of transformation of the liver tissue. Minor changes indicate a viral disease. In case of severe deviations, we are talking about more serious pathologies, so it is necessary to conduct a thorough examination to determine the extent of damage to the bile-forming gland.

Factors provoking diffuse changes

As mentioned earlier, pathological processes arise due to errors in nutrition, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, etc.

After an ultrasound, the doctor identifies the cause of DIP and makes an accurate diagnosis.

As a rule, the bile-forming gland recovers on its own, but if left untreated, severe functional disorders occur.

Diffuse dystrophic liver lesions

As a result of pathological changes in the liver, organ dysfunction occurs. Most often, such disorders occur against the background of liver disease.

Often diffuse dystrophic transformation occurs due to hepatitis

Typically, diffuse dystrophic lesions are provoked by hepatitis. Slightly less often, these changes occur after intoxication (mushrooms, salts and esters of nitric acid, etc.), the use of halothane (a highly active inhalation anesthetic), and atophan (a drug). Also, degeneration of liver tissue occurs due to cirrhosis, improper use of diuretics, hypnotics or sedatives.

Diffuse transformation of the liver ducts

The bile-forming gland consists of lobules, in the middle of which there are venous vessels and bile ducts. The main purpose of the bile ducts is to collect bile. The excretory ducts pass through the entire gland, and their ends are closed.

DIP affects the entire organ, including the walls of the bile ducts. As in other cases, this process occurs due to exposure to pathogens, alcohol, poor nutrition, etc.

Liver damage due to cholecystitis

DIP with inflammation of the gallbladder often occurs.

Protracted cholecystitis threatens a prolonged inflammatory process, which worsens from time to time. Pathology is a consequence of another disease. Most often, cholecystitis occurs against the background of impaired motility of the bile ducts or congenital diseases.

DIP often provokes cholecystitis

Hepatomegaly and DIP

The pathology in which the liver enlarges is hepatomegaly. As a rule, organ enlargement occurs due to intoxication with toxins or poisons. In this case, almost all liver tissue undergoes diffuse transformation. As a result, the organ protrudes from under the ribs (normally it is quite difficult to palpate the gland). In addition, when pressed, the patient feels pain, which indicates that the organ requires immediate treatment.

Diffusely reactive lesions

Reactive transformation of the liver is a pathology that arose as a result of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, chronic diseases of any organs, and long-term use of strong medications, for example, antibacterial agents. When the functionality of the bile-producing gland is impaired, reactive pancreatitis develops.

Reactive degeneration of the liver occurs as a result of diseases of the digestive and other organs, after taking potent drugs

Such a conclusion during ultrasound allows one to exclude tumors, stones, etc. In addition, ultrasound can detect focal tissue density lesions.

Diffuse lesions are not a separate diagnosis, but a reason to undergo additional diagnostics.

Diffuse focal transformation

DIP affects the entire bile-producing gland. During an ultrasound examination, tissue damage is observed over the entire surface. With diffuse focal transformation of the liver, limited areas of the gland are affected, that is, using ultrasound, it is possible to identify foci of change in healthy tissue.

Thus, with DIP, the entire liver is affected, and with diffuse focal changes in the liver, individual areas of the organ are affected. Lesions in the bile-forming gland are observed during hepatitis, which is accompanied by metastases or an abscess.

Liver pathologies in children

In newborns, DIP is diagnosed due to congenital diseases. In addition, pathological processes can arise as a result of infectious diseases in the mother during gestation, for example, hepatitis.

DIP in children occurs due to congenital diseases or after taking antibiotics

In children, DIP develops after taking antibacterial drugs. Antibiotics are very toxic and have a detrimental effect on the fragile body of patients in the younger age category.

If you suspect DIP in a child, it is necessary to conduct a thorough diagnosis: clinical analysis blood, urine. If necessary, the doctor prescribes a blood test for biochemistry, collects liver tissue cells, or performs laparoscopy (a low-traumatic diagnostic and treatment procedure).

DIP forms

Most often, minor diffuse lesions of the organ occur. They arise as a result of mild functional liver disorders. The extent of organ damage can be determined using ultrasound and additional diagnostic methods.

Moderate diffuse changes in the liver develop due to intoxication, poor nutrition, infections of viral origin, etc. If pathology is detected, the patient is recommended to adjust the diet. For viral diseases, antiviral drugs are prescribed. If the patient is in serious condition, he is transferred to a hospital. If the functioning of the gland is disrupted due to alcoholic beverages or synthetic substances, then plasmapheresis (blood purification) is performed. For moderate diffuse organ damage, it is recommended to take multivitamin preparations to enhance immunity.

If diffuse changes are pronounced, then the liver parenchyma swells greatly. Similar changes occur against the background of diabetes mellitus, fatty hepatosis, chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and cancer of the gland. In addition, the likelihood of pathology due to helminthiasis, viral diseases, malnutrition, and alcoholism increases. Treatment is prescribed after a complete diagnosis and identification of the causes of DIP.

Diagnostic tests

Changes in the structure of the gland can be detected echoscopically using ultrasound. However, to determine the cause of the pathology, it is recommended to conduct additional studies: blood test, urine test, biopsy (tissue sampling), laparoscopy, CT scan (computed tomography).

DIP can be detected using ultrasound examination

However, ultrasound is considered the most accessible and effective method for identifying DIP. During the examination, it is necessary to pay attention to echographic signs. In this way, you can assess the degree of damage to the liver parenchyma and biliary tract.

In order for the test results to be reliable, it is necessary to prepare for the study. On the eve of diagnosis, the patient should give up gas-forming products, take antispasmodic drugs and do a cleansing enema.

Echo signs of DIP:

• Increased liver density.
• Swelling.
• Increase in hepatocyte volume.
• Heterogeneity of echostructure.
• Accumulation of fat cells in the liver.
• Accumulation of connective tissue.
• Replacement of normal liver tissue with fibrous tissue.
• Accumulation of metabolic products.
• Foci of helminths.
• Bleeding.
• Atypical formations.

Zones of diffuse changes in the gland respond with increased, decreased or intense echogenicity.

Treatment methods

Diffuse liver diseases occur due to impaired functionality of the liver or other organs of the biliary system. In fact, any disease that a person has suffered negatively affects the bile-forming gland, causing minor or moderate diffuse lesions. In any case, treatment of diffuse changes in the liver is carried out only after determining the cause of the pathological processes.

A patient with DIP must follow the doctor’s recommendations and take healthy image life

First of all, the patient needs to adjust the menu, quit smoking, alcoholic drinks. If diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma appear due to an incorrect lifestyle, then diet No. 5 should be followed.

Diffuse changes that occur as a result of viral infections should be treated with antiviral drugs. In addition, the doctor prescribes hepatoprotectors to restore the structure of the liver.

As part of complex therapy, you can use folk remedies: chicory decoction, plum juice, pumpkin with honey and herbal infusions. Most often, milk thistle and agrimony root are used for treatment. To prepare a decoction, mix 30 g of dry ingredients and pour a glass of boiling water, after cooling, filter and take in the dosage indicated by the doctor. It is also recommended to consume 25 ml of olive or pumpkin oil in the morning on an empty stomach for 4 weeks.

Dietary nutrition helps restore liver functionality and normalizes digestion. The patient must saturate the body with proteins, carbohydrates in the required dosage and reduce the amount of fat. It is recommended to consume warm food and drinks. By following these rules, the patient will improve his well-being and speed up recovery.

Diet No. 5 includes following products, food and drinks:

• yesterday's baked goods (preferably brown bread);
• berries and fruits (not sour varieties);
• jelly from freshly squeezed juice;
• weak tea or coffee with the addition of low-fat milk;
• rosehip decoction;
• fresh vegetables, fruits, berries;
• vegetables raw, boiled, stewed or baked;
• egg white omelette, soft-boiled egg (no more than 1 yolk per day);
• soups based on vegetable broths or lean meat;
• fermented milk products (low fat content);
• dietary meats (turkey, veal, chicken, rabbit, etc.);
• boiled sausages.

With DIP, the following products should be excluded from the menu:

• fried foods (goose, duck, fish, pies, eggs);
• liver, kidneys, lungs, brains, etc.;
• broth with mushrooms, fatty meat, fish;
• fresh baked goods;
• okroshka;
• fermented milk products with a high percentage of fat content;
• fatty, spicy foods;
• smoked and canned products;
• cakes and cream pies, sweets, chocolate, ice cream;
• green onions, spinach, sorrel, radishes, mushrooms;
• sausage.

In addition, you should avoid alcohol and strong tonic drinks (coffee, tea, sweet soda).

Preventive measures and prognosis

DIP is provoked by various factors; to prevent them, it is necessary to undergo periodic medical examinations, not to come into contact with toxic substances, to eat right, to be physically active, and to give up bad habits. It is important to treat diseases in a timely manner, preventing them from becoming chronic.

The prognosis for DIP depends on the pathology that provoked them

The prognosis for DIP depends on the cause that provoked them. If the structure of the liver has changed due to errors in nutrition, alcoholism or smoking, then the prognosis will be favorable when a person changes his lifestyle.

In other cases, everything depends on the underlying pathology, the degree of damage to the gland and the general condition of the patient.

Thus, DIPs are a consequence of other diseases or poor lifestyle choices. To avoid serious consequences, you need to be attentive to your health and when characteristic symptoms consult a doctor. Only timely and competent treatment guarantees recovery.

Video on the topic

Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma are not a separate disease, but only a symptom that may indicate other conditions that adversely affect the condition of the tissues of this organ. Parenchyma is a collection of tissues that are responsible for performing liver functions.

Such a pathological condition indicates a certain transformation in the tissue. Diffuse does not always indicate a very severe disease. In fact, diffuse changes in the liver can be observed even in infants and people leading a healthy lifestyle, since even previous viral diseases can provoke this.

Etiology of the appearance of diffuse changes in the liver

The liver has unique regenerative capabilities, so no symptomatic manifestations of dysfunction of this organ may be observed for a very long time. When changes in the structure of tissues are detected, such a condition is, as a rule, a consequence of an excessively adverse effect on the tissues of this organ, and everything can return to normal on its own. Often, a person may not even feel symptoms, so this condition is often detected during the diagnosis of other conditions and during routine comprehensive examination. The causes of the problem are extremely varied. Often this condition appears as a result of:

• taking antibiotics;
• taking other potent drugs;
• consumption of harmful foods;
• alcohol abuse;
• genetic abnormalities;
• smoking;
• obesity;
• metabolic diseases;
• sudden weight loss;
• viral hepatitis;
• autoimmune hepatitis;
• viral infections;
• severe bacterial infections.

In some cases, diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas are diagnosed simultaneously. The thing is that these organs are connected by ducts, so the deterioration of one organ often leads to damage to another. Damage to two organs at once is observed against the background of vascular diseases and infections that occur in chronic and acute forms. Moderate diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma can be observed even in children immediately after birth.

Symptomatic manifestations of diffuse changes in liver tissue

Diffuse changes in the liver rarely have pronounced symptomatic manifestations. The thing is that even in the presence of dysfunction, this organ can compensate for the effects of unfavorable factors for a long time. If changes in the structure of organ tissues develop against the background of severe poisoning or diseases that directly affect the organ tissues, symptoms such as may appear;

• yellowness of the sclera of the eyes;
• yellowness of the skin;
• mild pain or discomfort in the hypochondrium;
• feeling of heaviness after eating;
• bitter taste in the mouth;
• general weakness;
• increased fatigue;
• nausea;
• frequent headaches;
• irritability;
• sudden change of mood.

As a rule, signs of liver dysfunction in the presence of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma are expressed only if such a condition provokes a serious illness.

Considering that diffuse changes in the liver can be observed in all people of all age categories and social groups, it is very important, when identifying this condition, to carry out additional diagnostics and comprehensive treatment, which will not in all cases involve taking medications.

Diagnosis and treatment of diffuse changes

Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma are usually detected when ultrasound examination, which can be prescribed by a doctor both to identify existing diseases and for the purpose of preventive examination. Echo signs of diffuse changes are extremely varied and include:

• heterogeneity of tissue structure;
• increased parenchyma density;
• increase in organ size;
• disruption of the pattern of blood vessels;
• compaction of tracts;
• rapid attenuation of ultrasound.

When diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma are detected, additional diagnostics are required to determine the root cause of this condition, including blood and urine tests. Next, the underlying disease is treated.

If diffuse changes in the liver are detected, hepatoprotectors and immunomodulators may be prescribed to protect tissues from further damage to the organ.

A person who has been diagnosed with diffuse changes in the tissue of the liver parenchyma should avoid drinking alcohol and abandon other bad habits. To normalize the functioning of the organ, decoctions of chicory, pumpkin with honey, plum juice, and also tinctures and herbal decoctions can be used, including:

• milk thistle;
• chamomile;
• calamus marsh;
• rosehip;
• corn columns with silks;
• oregano;
• peppermint;
• fennel fruit;
• immortelle;
• St. John's wort;
• licorice roots;
• rhizome of valerian officinalis;
• wild strawberry leaves;
• calendula flowers;
• greater celandine;
• St. John's wort;
• horsetail;
• knotweed

The diet may include dried baked goods, honey, jam, baked pies, jellies, non-acidic fruits and berries, protein omelettes, boiled and steamed lean meat, including chicken, rabbit and turkey.

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Why does hepatomegaly occur?

The main reasons for the appearance of diffuse changes are:

Read also: Liver cirrhosis in men: signs

Moderate diffuse changes in the liver occur under the influence of either one provoking factor or several. In addition to changes in the liver, they can occur in the tissues of the pancreas and other organs of the digestive system.

How does hepatomegaly manifest?

The main signs of changes in organ tissues are observed during a medical examination and palpation. The contours of the abdomen change Right side becomes asymmetrical, during palpation you can feel the liver enlarged in size. This is the result of fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity. Detailed changes in the abdominal organs can be detected through an ultrasound examination.

Other symptoms are:

1. Yellow tint of the epidermis.
2. Unpleasant odor in the mouth.
3. Constant intense heartburn.
4. Skin rash and regular itching.
5. Digestive disorders that can last for more than one day.
6. Nausea and vomiting.

With subsequent progression of the disease, an increase and thickening of the liver structure is noted. Painful sensations become more pronounced, now the pain is felt at a specific point. At this stage, immediate medical intervention is required.

Fatty hepatosis as a form of diffuse transformation

Steatosis, or fatty hepatosis, is another form of diffuse liver disease. The consequence of this process is the accumulation of fatty tissue in the organ. Such reactions occur as a result of toxic effects on liver cells. Other reasons for the formation of fatty tissue are:

1. Dysfunctions in metabolic processes - diabetes, obesity.
2. Diseases of the digestive system of chronic origin.
3. Frequent consumption of alcoholic beverages.

In addition to the above reasons, systematic and long-term use of certain medications can lead to pathological transformation of liver tissue. Symptoms of this pathology often do not manifest themselves in any way, but with the development and progression of hepatosis, heaviness appears in the right lower side, which is accompanied by discomfort when motor activity. It is impossible to determine the presence of fatty hepatosis without special diagnostics. Only with ultrasound examination is it possible to detect this transformation.

Read also: Symptoms and treatment of liver steatosis

What diagnostic measures are carried out

Often, diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver or other organs are detected accidentally during ultrasound examination. Sometimes such a pathological condition is detected when a patient consults a doctor with certain complaints (this means that the transformations have become serious). In addition to ultrasound, examinations such as:

• biochemical laboratory blood test;
• histological analyses;
• echographic studies of the liver.

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Diagnostic measures

Often diffuse changes in the hepatic system are observed during preventive examinations or when a patient presents with relevant complaints. After collecting an anamnesis, the doctor gives a referral for blood and urine sampling, as well as for examination of the liver organ with diagnostic equipment:

Biochemical and general urine analysis determines the level of hemoglobin, cholesterol, bilirubin, leukocytes, lipids, albumin, glucose, acids, fibrinogen, urea.

Ultrasound echographic examinations (ultrasound) are considered the most common. They show a complete picture of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma and its biliary system to establish a diagnosis.

For this examination method, it is necessary to prepare the patient, namely, the day before the ultrasound, exclude foods that cause gas formation, take an antispasmodic and give a cleansing enema.

Clinical picture of diffuse changes in the hepatic system during ultrasound echographic examination

Echographic ultrasound of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma notes the transformation of hepatocytes. The image shows: density, swelling and increase in cell volume, heterogeneity, granularity, dystrophy, sclerosis, scarring and nodularity, accumulation of metabolic products, foci of helminthic infestations, hemorrhages, atypical formations.

Areas of diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma respond with decreased, increased or very high echogenicity. Such deviations mean the presence of hepatitis (viral, atypical), fatty hepatosis, liver amyloidosis, helminthiasis, cancer. If the disease process is sluggish, then it is asymptomatic. In the acute picture, there are complaints of pain and protrusion in the upper right corner of the peritoneum, a yellowish tint of the skin and eyeballs, and dyspeptic disorders.

The echogenicity of the bile ducts with diffuse changes is increased, and the picture vascular system, lubricated. Typically, this is caused by cholecystitis, cholangitis and bile duct dyskinesia.

Echographic ultrasound of diffuse changes in the gallbladder. When examining a bladder, pay attention to its size, lumen, wall thickness and density, length and width of the common hepatic duct, the presence of stones, polyps and tumors.

Significant deviations from normal sizes, indicators of sound conductivity and echogenicity, indicate the presence of pathological changes in the hepatic structures.

Increased echogenicity indicates a possible course of cholelithiasis, chronic cholecystitis, tumor growth, and reduced echogenicity is more often observed with exacerbation of cholecystitis and hepatitis.

Symptoms of these diseases are expressed in hepatic colic, fever, bitter taste in the mouth, yellowness of the eyeballs and skin with elements of dermatitis, nervousness, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

To establish a final diagnosis, computer and magnetic resonance imaging studies of the liver organ are often used. Such an examination helps to examine and clarify diffuse changes in the liver in a three-dimensional image on scanned sections.

Treatment

Diagnostic results of hepatic gland dysfunction

Help with diffuse changes in the liver

Minor diffuse changes in the liver

Table diet No. 5, excluding strong and carbonated drinks, fatty, sour, salty, spicy and smoked foods. Restoring and cleansing the liver system, therapy: Hepatochilin, Essentiale, Hepar compositum (hepatoprotectors); Folk remedies: As a rule, the elimination of diffuse liver changes depends on the cause of their occurrence, a diagnostic examination and the establishment of a final diagnosis. To prevent diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma and its biliary system, it is necessary to be responsible for the standards of hygiene, nutrition, physical activity, use of medications, and also promptly consult a doctor for preventive examinations and treatment of emerging diseases. vsepropechen.ru Epidemiology Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma indicate impaired liver function and are possible at any age. Changes in the structure of the pancreatic parenchyma are sometimes a consequence of the aging process and are more often detected in older people. Causes and symptoms In most cases, diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas indicate the presence of a serious pathological process in the body. Changes in the liver parenchyma can develop for the following reasons: hepatitis of any form, regardless of severity; autoimmune hepatitis; sudden change in body weight; excess adipose tissue on internal organs; long-term treatment with antibiotics or other toxic drugs; cirrhosis of the liver; alcohol abuse. Among the most dangerous diseases accompanied by diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma are hemochromatosis and sclerosing cholangitis. With lesions of the pancreas, part of the glandular tissue is replaced by fatty or scar tissue. Among the most common reasons affecting the structure of the parenchyma of an organ: previous acute pancreatitis; chronic pancreatitis; diseases of the liver and biliary tract; long courses of treatment with certain pharmacological drugs; excess fat in the diet; severe or chronic stress; smoking; alcohol abuse. Partial degeneration of the pancreatic parenchyma is typical for patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, as well as the elderly. In case of age-related changes, no special treatment is carried out. Viral diseases, difficult environmental conditions, an unbalanced diet, and frequent or severe intoxications of the body can provoke changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas. In liver lesions, sometimes a hereditary predisposition cannot be ruled out. With a superficial examination, it is quite difficult to establish an accurate diagnosis, so a patient with identified disorders is recommended to undergo additional examination to find out the full picture of the processes occurring in the body. Symptoms Since diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas themselves are part of the symptom complex that accompanies the course of the disease of a particular organ, clearly defined external signs they are not available. The main symptom is a change in the echogenicity of the structure of the organ being examined. External clinical manifestations of parenchymal changes correspond to the typical symptoms of the underlying disease. It should be noted that hepatitis and some other liver diseases can occur asymptomatically or in the so-called anicteric form. In such cases, changes in the structure of the organ are discovered by chance, during a full examination, or when visiting a doctor for another reason. Subclinical forms of liver disease often look like a general malaise of unknown etiology: general weakness, lethargy, increased fatigue, poor appetite. Clinical manifestations typical of liver diseases: yellowness of the skin and sclera; very light stool; pain in the right hypochondrium; dark coloration of urine. Sometimes liver diseases are accompanied by severe itching. Similarly, diffuse changes in the pancreas by themselves do not in any way affect the general condition of the patient. Symptoms of the disorders correspond to the clinical manifestations of the underlying disease. In acute pancreatitis, the patient complains of severe pain in the left hypochondrium, the deterioration of the condition is accompanied by nausea and vomiting. In severe cases, tachycardia develops against the background of damage to the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis has a similar clinical picture, but the increase in manifestations of the disease occurs more slowly as the disease progresses. Similar first symptoms are characteristic of fibrous inflammation of the pancreas. As untreated fibrosis progresses, digestive disorders appear, allergization of the body occurs, and the process of insulin synthesis is disrupted, which becomes the cause of diabetes mellitus. Forms Minor changes in the liver parenchyma occur quite often, as a reaction to a pathological process or features of the patient’s lifestyle. When the reasons that caused the change in the structure of the organ are eliminated, it is possible to restore it, depending on the type of tissue change. In the absence of treatment and prevention, the changes will progress and become irreversible. Moderate diffuse changes are provoked by external factors. As a rule, they arise as a result of poor nutrition, bad habits, intoxication or viral liver damage. In the pancreas, diffuse changes can be: focal; parenchymal; fibrous; dystrophic. Diagnostics Diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas are detected by ultrasound. Additional research will be required to determine the reasons, in particular: general analysis of urine and blood; blood chemistry; determination of the level of pancreatic enzymes and glucose in the blood; What and how to examine If pathological processes in the liver and pancreas are suspected, the problematic organs should be examined first. To identify changes in the structure of the organ, ultrasound and laboratory tests are required. If there is not enough information to establish an accurate diagnosis, the doctor refers the patient to a computed tomography scan, angiography or biopsy. In some cases, testing for tumor markers is required. Treatment Changes in the liver and pancreas parenchyma themselves do not require treatment. It is necessary to establish and eliminate the cause of their appearance. Treatment is prescribed only by a doctor, depending on the nature and severity of the underlying pathology. In addition to anti-inflammatory or antiviral therapy, patients with severe signs of liver pathology are prescribed drugs from the group of hepatoprotectors, as well as multivitamin preparations. Prevention and prognosis The prognosis in each specific case depends on the characteristics of the underlying disease and can vary greatly from favorable to potentially fatal. In order to prevent diffuse changes in the parenchyma of the liver and pancreas, it is recommended to make adjustments to the diet and lifestyle. Patients with chronic diseases of the liver and pancreas need to give up too spicy, salty, sour foods, eliminate fatty foods, smoked foods, and give up alcohol. In some cases, to prevent further complications, the patient is prescribed lifelong maintenance therapy with hepatoprotectors. gormonexpert.ru Diffuse changes in the liver parenchyma Liver tissue has a homogeneous structure with weak density. With diffuse changes in the parenchyma in the liver, during an ultrasound examination, blood vessels with bile ducts are visible in the liver tissue, the density of which is increased. Diffuse changes in the liver indicate a complete change in liver tissue, which can be associated with both serious pathologies and minor functional disorders in the functioning of the organ. The degree of edema of the liver parenchyma depends on the severity of the inflammatory process. With diffuse changes, the following diseases can be observed: obesity, liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, tumors, chronic hepatitis, cystic formations. The onset of diffuse changes in the liver can provoke headache, nausea, weakness, bitterness in the mouth, frequent mood swings, irritability. Diffuse changes in liver structure Diffuse changes in the liver are detected on ultrasound. A change in structure can begin not only as a result of primary liver diseases, but also with pathologies not related to the organ. For example, with diabetes mellitus, protein metabolism may be disrupted and deposits may appear in the liver. In this case, the lobes of the liver increase in size, the density of the organ also increases, and in the deeper layers the structure of the organ loses its homogeneity. The heterogeneous structure can be seen as small or large areas of varying density with pathological metabolic products (proteins, carbohydrates). Diffuse changes in liver tissue With any negative effects on the liver, changes occur in the diffuse tissue of the organ. Such changes may provoke alcohol addiction, smoking, medications, hereditary abnormalities, as well as viruses and bacteria. Often diffuse changes in the liver are detected in combination with diseases of the pancreas, since these organs have ducts connected. Diffusely heterogeneous changes in the structure of the liver Diffuse changes in the liver, in which tissue heterogeneity appears, may be associated with obstruction of the gallbladder ducts, proliferation or reduction of connective tissue, and accumulation of any substances in the liver cells. If the liver is heterogeneous, cirrhosis, calcifications, obstruction of the liver veins, hepatitis, and metabolic disorders (with obesity or diabetes) are usually diagnosed. Quite often, with a heterogeneous tissue structure, tubercles appear, connective tissue decreases or increases, and degeneration of liver cells and bile ducts cannot be ruled out. The reasons for tissue changes may be associated, as already mentioned, with poor, unhealthy diet, alcohol abuse, etc. Majority pathological conditions liver are detected by ultrasound. To prescribe treatment, it is necessary to establish the main diagnosis that caused diffuse changes in the liver. The liver is a unique human organ that has the ability to self-heal, but irreversible consequences lead to serious disruptions in the functioning of the organ. Diffuse dystrophic changes in the liver Diffuse changes in the liver occur as a result of negative effects on the body due to poor nutrition, diseases or other disorders of the normal functioning of organs and systems. Dystrophic changes lead to severe suppression of liver function. The cause of such changes is acute or chronic diseases of the organ. In most cases, degenerative changes in diffuse tissue occur due to the hepatitis virus. In some cases, such lesions are caused by poisoning (mushrooms, nitrates, etc.), the use of halothane, atophan. Also, cirrhosis of the liver and inappropriate use of diuretics, sleeping pills or sedatives can lead to this kind of changes. Diffuse changes in the walls of the liver ducts The liver consists of lobules, in the center of which veins and bile ducts pass. The ducts are necessary for collecting produced bile; they pass through the entire liver and have closed ends. Diffuse changes in the liver affect the entire organ, including the walls of the liver ducts. Changes in the walls of the ducts occur mainly for the same reasons as in the rest of the organ tissue (viruses, bacteria, unhealthy food, etc.). Diffuse changes in the liver in chronic cholecystitis Diffuse liver changes in chronic cholecystitis occur quite often. In chronic cholecystitis, a long-term inflammatory process is observed in the gallbladder, sometimes with exacerbations. The disease is always secondary, which develops as a result of biliary dyskinesia or congenital pathologies. Women suffer from cholecystitis more often (five times), especially with blond hair and prone to obesity. Diffuse changes in the liver with hepatomegaly Hepatomegaly is a pathological enlargement of the liver. The most common cause of this condition is poisoning from toxins or poisonous substances. In this case, diffuse changes in the liver completely affect all tissues, while the organ can be easily palpated under the ribs (with a healthy liver, it is extremely difficult to palpate the organ). In addition, pain is felt when pressed, which also indicates a dysfunction of the liver. Hepatomegaly is not considered an independent disease; experts classify this condition as a symptom that indicates the need to urgently treat the liver. The liver destroys and neutralizes toxic and poisonous substances that enter the body. Passing through the liver, toxins are eliminated from the body neutralized. Diffuse reactive liver changes Diffuse changes in the liver are sometimes reactive in nature; in other words, if the liver is malfunctioning, a pancreatic reaction is observed, which is expressed by reactive pancreatitis. Such a conclusion during an ultrasound examination makes it possible with a high degree of probability to exclude neoplasms, tumors, stones, etc. Ultrasound also shows focal lesions of tissue density. Diffuse changes are not a diagnosis; they only indicate the need for additional examination. Diffuse focal changes in the liver Diffuse changes in the liver affect the entire organ. During an ultrasound, the doctor diagnoses changes in tissue over the entire surface of the liver. With focal lesions of the organ, the changes affect individual areas of the liver, in other words, ultrasound reveals foci of changes on normal liver tissue. With diffuse-focal changes, the doctor identifies individual foci on the affected liver tissue, which differ from diffuse ones. These kinds of changes occur in hepatitis accompanied by metastasis or abscess. Diffuse changes in the liver in a child Diffuse changes in the liver can occur as a result of congenital pathologies (underdevelopment). It can also be caused by hepatitis during pregnancy (usually in such cases, termination of pregnancy is prescribed). Changes in a child’s liver can begin during treatment with antibiotics, which are extremely toxic drugs, and the baby’s body is not strong and mature enough. Diffuse changes in the liver in a newborn Diffuse liver changes in newborns often occur as a result of congenital anomalies. Also, the mother’s illnesses during pregnancy and medications (especially antibiotics) can affect the newborn’s liver. If diffuse changes in the liver are detected in a newborn, first of all, an additional examination (blood test, urine test) should be carried out; if necessary, a biochemical blood test, biopsy, and laparoscopy are prescribed. ilive.com.ua