Reviewing Common Chronic Liver Disease Causes & Laboratory Testing Options

Understanding Chronic Liver Disease

In 2020, chronic liver disease was the 12th leading cause of death in the United States. Chronic liver disease involves the progressive destruction and regeneration of liver tissue that leads to fibrosis and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis and chronic liver failure are leading causes of morbidity and mortality, with most cases attributed to excessive alcohol consumption, viral hepatitis B or C, or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. From the results of multiple studies, these four conditions account for approximately 80% of all chronic liver disease.

This presentation focuses on the epidemiology, clinical aspects, signs and symptoms, and diagnosis of these four common causes of chronic liver disease. It also considers the value of direct assessment for identifying at-risk patients. Finally, it examines the utility of the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) Score in assessing the likelihood of progression to cirrhosis and liver-related clinical events in patients with advanced fibrosis.

Learning Objectives

This webinar will help you:

• Describe four main causes of chronic liver disease
• Discuss major risk factors for developing chronic liver disease
• Explain associated clinical and laboratory findings
• Summarize testing options to assist in the differential diagnosis of chronic liver disease

Watch on Demand       Download Slides (PDF, 5.1MB)

Fisher Healthcare is approved as a provider of continuing education programs in the clinical laboratory sciences by the ASCLS P.A.C.E.™ Program. One P.A.C.E.™ credit-hour will be provided for this complimentary basic level program.

Jim Aguanno, PhD

Dr. Aguanno earned a PhD in biochemistry from Memphis State University. He completed post-doctoral fellowships at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in biochemistry and a second fellowship in laboratory medicine at Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.

Aguanno was director of the Core Laboratory at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, Texas, for 24 years and joined Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics in 2004. He is currently a senior clinical consultant in the Medical and Scientific Affairs group and presents on a variety of clinical topics.