Liver diseases and hepatitis - Specialist practice in Bühl/Baden-Baden
Liver diseases often remain unrecognised for too long. As a specialist practice for gastroenterology, we specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of all diseases of the liver and bile ducts. Our experienced team of specialists provides prompt, comprehensive and individualised treatment.
What does the liver do?
The liver works constantly and tirelessly. As an important detoxification centre in the body, it is responsible for breaking down harmful substances such as alcohol, medication and various toxins. The liver also plays a central role in the metabolic processes of protein, fat and sugar utilisation. The organ also produces coagulation factors in the bloodstream and bile acids for the digestion of fats.
The liver is surprisingly robust and able to regenerate itself in the event of damage. As a result, it can continue to fulfil its tasks over a long period of time despite illness - and often suffers unnoticed. However, from a certain degree of damage, the liver can no longer fulfil its function.
- What does the liver do?
- What liver diseases are there?
- What symptoms indicate liver disease?
- Diagnostics: How we recognise liver disease
- How are liver diseases treated?
- QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
- OWNER LUTZ EHMSEN: WHAT INNERMED STANDS FOR
- CERTIFIED QUALITY, MODERN EQUIPMENT, HIGHEST HYGIENE STANDARDS
- Directions
- Lutz Ehmsen
What liver diseases are there?
Liver diseases are widespread: In Germany alone, around five million people suffer from liver disease. The causes are varied and range from genetic diseases to viral infections and inflammation due to alcohol or obesity. To the most common liver diseases in Germany:
Fatty liver
One speaks of a fatty liver when it leads to a Increased storage of fat in the cells of the liver comes. A high-fat or unbalanced diet and excessive alcohol consumption can be responsible for this. Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus are also common causes. If fatty liver disease is recognised and treated in time, the organ can often recover completely. If left untreated, fatty liver can lead to progressive and severe liver damage.
Liver inflammation with and without jaundice (hepatitis A, B, C, D, E and autoimmune hepatitis)
Hepatitis is a disease that is usually virus-related, acute or chronic, inflammation of the liver. A distinction is made between five different groups of pathogens: Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E. These are transmitted in different ways. While hepatitis A and E viruses are mainly transmitted via contaminated food, infection with hepatitis B, C and D viruses usually occurs via blood or sexual contact.
Pathogens such as the mumps virus, cytomegalovirus, rubella virus, Epstein-Barr virus (the causative agent of glandular fever) and certain autoimmune diseases (autoimmune hepatitis) can also lead to inflammation of the liver.
Liver hardening and shrinkage (liver cirrhosis)
Liver cirrhosis is a Chronic disease of the liver, This leads to a gradual destruction of the tissue. The liver hardens and shrinks until it can no longer fulfil its function. The most common causes of liver cirrhosis include alcohol abuse and hepatitis.
Other possible causes of non-infectious liver inflammation include iron and copper storage diseases (haemochromatosis/Wilson's disease). Certain medications or environmental toxins can also lead to liver damage.
What symptoms indicate liver disease?
Liver diseases usually cause no pain and therefore go unnoticed for a long time. At an advanced stage, the following symptoms may occur Complaints come:
- Feeling of pressure in the upper abdomen
- Extreme tiredness and fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Itching of the skin
- Nausea and vomiting
If the liver is so severely damaged that it can no longer release the yellowish bile pigment into the bile, the skin and eyeball also turn yellow (jaundice).
Diagnostics: How we recognise liver disease
When the liver is damaged, certain enzymes are elevated in the blood. The Blood test is therefore an important tool if liver disease is suspected. In the case of autoimmune hepatitis or viral infection (hepatitis A, B, C, D and E), further laboratory analyses are then carried out to ensure optimal treatment. A painless ultrasound examination of the liver also provides information about the size and structure of the liver, as well as possible damage to the bile ducts.
How are liver diseases treated?
The treatment of liver disease depends on the cause. Drug treatment plays an important role in chronic hepatitis B and hepatitis C in particular. Nowadays, autoimmune hepatitis can also be treated well with immunosuppressive therapy, i.e. suppression of the immune system.
All drug treatments for liver diseases, including hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are carried out in our practice. Together with our patients, we create an optimal, customised treatment plan.
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
OWNER LUTZ EHMSEN: WHAT INNERMED STANDS FOR
Your well-being is a priority at InnerMed. Our competent practice team, led by owner and gastroenterologist Lutz Ehmsen, ensures that your colonoscopy runs smoothly and provides comprehensive care during and after the examination. This is particularly important to us:
- Detailed patient education and information
- Time for individual support and diagnostics
- Safety and well-being of our patients
- A friendly tone and communication at eye level
CERTIFIED QUALITY, MODERN EQUIPMENT,
HIGHEST HYGIENE STANDARDS
Thanks to many years of experience and state-of-the-art technology, we can offer you a offer medical care at the very highest level. We not only attach great importance to professional expertise and personalised care, but also to maintaining the highest standards of hygiene.Compliance with these standards is a core aspect of our work and ensures the safety of our patients. We use state-of-the-art, high-resolution video endoscopes from Olympus for our endoscopic examinations.
Do you have questions or doubts before your examination?
Don't hesitate to contact us - we take your fears seriously and take the time to answer your questions.
Patient voices
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About the author
Lutz Ehmsen
Lutz Ehmsen is a specialist in internal medicine specialising in gastroenterology with additional qualifications in emergency medicine and owner of the group practice InnerMed. He has many years of clinical and outpatient experience, has worked as a senior physician and head of an endoscopy department and has an exceptionally high level of experience in diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy with around 2000 colonoscopies and 500 gastroscopies per year.
His specialist focus is on quality-assured colonoscopy and gastroscopy, structured colon cancer screening and the comprehensive care of patients with chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.
More about qualifications and experience on the author page >
