Chronic condition care
Liver health
We investigate and manage liver problems, most commonly fatty liver disease. An abnormal liver blood test is common and usually not alarming, but it should be explained rather than ignored — and early fatty liver is one of the few chronic conditions that can genuinely be reversed.
Come in if you have
- A blood test showed abnormal liver results
- You were told you have a fatty liver on a scan
- You have diabetes, high cholesterol or carry weight around the middle
- You drink regularly and want an honest assessment
- You have never been screened for hepatitis B or C
What happens at your visit
- We repeat and expand the liver tests, because a single mildly abnormal result often normalises on its own.
- We screen for the treatable causes — hepatitis B and C, iron overload, autoimmune and thyroid conditions.
- We assess your risk of scarring, which matters far more than the enzyme numbers themselves.
- We refer to a liver specialist if the picture warrants it.
Abnormal results are common and usually explainable
Mildly raised liver enzymes turn up frequently on routine blood work, and most of the time they are not a sign of serious disease. They are also not something to ignore — the point is to find out why, and then decide whether anything needs doing.
Often the first step is simply repeating the test. A single mildly abnormal result frequently returns to normal.
Fatty liver is the usual answer
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is now the most common liver condition in the United States, and most people who have it are surprised — they assume liver problems mean alcohol.
It travels with insulin resistance, weight carried around the middle, type 2 diabetes and raised cholesterol. It usually causes no symptoms whatsoever.
The genuinely encouraging part
Early fatty liver is reversible, which is unusual among chronic conditions. Losing roughly 7 to 10 percent of body weight can clear fat from the liver and reverse the inflammation that leads to scarring.
That is a real, achievable target with a real payoff — and it is one of the strongest arguments for taking an abnormal liver test seriously while it is still early.
What we check for
- Hepatitis B and C — both treatable, hepatitis C now curable with tablets
- Iron overload (haemochromatosis) — inherited, easily missed, easily managed
- Autoimmune and thyroid causes
- Medications and supplements — including several sold as “liver support”
- Alcohol — asked directly, without judgment, because the answer changes the plan
Scarring matters more than enzymes
The number that predicts long-term outcome is not the enzyme level but how much scarring (fibrosis) has developed. There are scoring tools and scans that assess this without a biopsy, and we will use them where relevant rather than tracking enzymes indefinitely.
Common questions
- My liver test was slightly abnormal. Should I be worried?
- Usually not immediately, but it should be followed up rather than filed away. Mild abnormalities are common and often temporary. What matters is whether they persist, and whether there is an identifiable cause worth treating.
- Can fatty liver be reversed?
- Early fatty liver, yes — genuinely. Losing around 7 to 10 percent of body weight can clear fat from the liver and reverse inflammation. That window does not stay open indefinitely, which is why catching it early matters.
- I do not drink. How do I have a fatty liver?
- Most fatty liver disease in the US is not alcohol-related. It is closely tied to insulin resistance, weight around the middle, diabetes and cholesterol. It is now the most common liver condition in the country.
- Should I be tested for hepatitis C?
- Adults should be screened at least once. Hepatitis C often causes no symptoms for decades, and it is now curable with a short course of tablets — so finding it is genuinely worth doing.
This page explains how we care for this condition at our office. It is general information, not medical advice for your specific situation — please talk to us about your own care.
Ready to get this looked at?
Call us or send a request and we will get you in — often the same or next day.