What is the cause for enlarged liver and fatty infiltration?
Hon. Consultant Physician and Gastroenterologist,
St. Bartholomew's The Royal London and Homerton Hospitals, UK
Q: I am 37 years old and recently I found that I have an enlarged liver and there is fatty infiltration of the liver. I am suffering from loss of appetite and swelling on my face and legs since last five to six years. I have left alcohol and checked my LFT (liver function test) regularly. All values are under normal but my alkaline phosphatase is continually out of range (557 to 421). I am taking Ayurvedic treatment but it is not under control. I am really fed up with all this. Kindly guide me what should I do to correct my liver function and get rid of the fatty liver?
A:A fatty liver can be due to a number of things but if you have stopped drinking alcohol it should get better - if it was the cause of it. Swelling of the legs can be due to chronic liver disease and I would suggest that you see an allopathic liver doctor. A raised alkaline phosphatase does need investigating with further blood tests and also an ultrasound of the liver to see why it is raised. Medicines will not help until you have found a cause of the abnormality.