Liver Health IBD and Liver Disease By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. Learn about our editorial process Updated on August 11, 2022 Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH Medically reviewed by Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH LinkedIn Robert Burakoff, MD, MPH, is board-certified in gastroentrology. He is the vice chair for ambulatory services for the department of medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York, where he is also a professor. He was the founding editor and co-editor in chief of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Getty Images/Science Picture Co Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Is the Liver? Causes of Cirrhosis of the Liver Symptoms of Liver Disease Complications of Liver Disease How Is Liver Disease Diagnosed? Is Liver Disease Permanent? What About Transplants? Monitoring For Liver Disease Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects the digestive tract, but it can also affect other parts of the body as well. People with Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis may also be at risk for developing liver problems. Some of the liver problems that are associated with IBD are primary sclerosing cholangitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and primary biliary cirrhosis. What Is the Liver? The liver, which is the largest organ in the body, provides several important functions without which the body can not survive. The liver removes impurities and foreign bodies from the blood, makes the proteins that help blood clot, and produces bile. When disease interferes with the functioning of the liver, it can cause significant medical problems. Causes of Cirrhosis of the Liver In people with IBD, cirrhosis could be caused by autoimmune hepatitis or primary biliary cirrhosis. Autoimmune hepatitis is associated with a dysfunctional immune system. Primary biliary cirrhosis is an inflammation of the bile ducts that can inhibit bile from leaving the liver and going to the small intestine. When the bile gets backed up it can cause further damage to liver tissues. Primary sclerosing cholangitis, which is largely associated with ulcerative colitis, can also overlap with autoimmune hepatitis (sometimes called "overlap syndrome"). Symptoms of Liver Disease One of the biggest concerns about liver disease is that in its earliest stages, there may be no symptoms at all. Some people may have liver disease, and yet show no signs of it either in their symptoms or via liver tests. When cirrhosis does start to cause symptoms, they can include: ExhaustionFatigueLoss of appetiteNauseaWeaknessWeight loss Complications of Liver Disease In some cases, liver disease is first discovered when it starts to cause complications, such as: Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) or the abdomen (ascites)Excessive bruising and bleedingJaundice, which is yellowing of the eyes and skin caused by the buildup of bilirubinItching, which is caused by a buildup of bile in the skinGallstones, which develop when bile is blocked from entering the gallbladderToxin buildup in the blood and the brainMedication sensitivity caused by the inability of the liver to process drugsPortal hypertension, which is an increase in blood pressure in a vein called the portal veinVarices, which are enlarged blood vessels caused by the slow blood flow through the portal veinVarious other complications such as immune system dysfunctions, infections, and kidney problems How Is Liver Disease Diagnosed? Some of the tests used to diagnose liver disease include: Blood testsComputerized axial tomography (CAT) scanLiver biopsyLiver scan with a radioisotope or a laparoscopeMedical historyPhysical examSymptomsUltrasound Is Liver Disease Permanent? Liver damage isn't reversible, but when liver disease is present, further damage can be prevented. Getting proper treatment, eating a healthy diet, and avoiding alcoholic beverages are all important to halting the progression of liver disease. Any complications from the liver disease must also be treated, to avoid further damage to other body systems from toxins building up in the brain and the blood. Medications might also be used to manage portal hypertensions and varices. What About Transplants? In some cases, the liver becomes too damaged and a liver transplant is needed. The transplant is from a donor, and with improved technology, it is increasingly successful. Monitoring For Liver Disease People with IBD who have concerns about developing liver disease should ask their gastroenterologist about how often they should have liver testing. Some medications can also be associated with liver disease, and regular monitoring is recommended. 3 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. John Hopkins Medicine. Liver Anatomy and Function. Liver Foundation. Autoimmune Hepatitis. National Institute of Digestive Disease and Kidney Disease. Symptoms and Causes of Cirrhosis. Additional Reading Olsson R, Glaumann H, Almer S, et al. "High prevalence of small duct primary sclerosing cholangitis among patients with overlapping autoimmune hepatitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis." Eur J Intern Med. 2009 Mar;20:190-196. By Amber J. Tresca Amber J. Tresca is a freelance writer and speaker who covers digestive conditions, including IBD. She was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis at age 16. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit