A concise, practical guide to the diagnosis and treatment of liver disease. Authoritative and practical, this important new book not only spells out the advantages and limitations of the latest diagnostic tests, but also provides numerous algorithms for evaluating patients and treating the liver problems commonly encountered by primary care physicians. Here, too, the reader will find described the nuances of serological tests for the detection of viral infections and how best to use invasive and noninvasive radiological tests in specific circumstances. Common complications are fully discussed and detailed practical information is given on how to recognize the patient's immediate problems and deal with them effectively. This book's numerous diagrams, clinical "pearls", and cost comparisons will clarify the often complex and bewildering array of conditions associated with liver disease and make it a definitive and indispensable guide for primary care physicians, medical students, and residents.

Zusammenfassung
Authoritative and practical, this important new book not only spells out the advantages and limitations of the latest diagnostic tests, but also provides numerous algorithms for evaluating patients and treating the liver problems commonly encountered by primary care physicians.

Inhalt
I. General Clinical Features of Liver Disease.- 1 Signs and Symptoms of Liver Disease.- II. Approach to Screening for Liver Disease.- 2 Routine Screening Blood Tests for Liver Disease.- 3 Specific Diagnostic Blood Tests.- 4 True Liver Function Tests.- III. Imaging.- 5 Noninvasive Techniques for the Evaluation of Liver Diseases.- 6 Radiologic Interventions for Liver Disease.- IV. Hepatocellular Diseases.- 7 Hepatic Steatosis and Alcoholic Hepatitis.- 8 Self-Limited Viral Hepatitis: A, E, CMV, EBV.- 9 Acute and Chronic Hepatitis B and D.- 10 Hepatitis C and G.- 11 Autoimmune Hepatitis.- 12 Hepatocellular Carcinoma.- 13 Drug-Induced Hepatotoxicity.- 14 Bilirubin Metabolism and Hyperbilirubinemia.- V. Biliary Diseases.- 15 Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis.- 16 Extrahepatic Cholestasis: Stones and Malignancies.- 17 Cholecystitis.- VI. Adult Genetic Liver Diseases.- 18 Genetic Hemochromatosis.- 19 Disorders of Porphyrin Metabolism.- 20 Alpha-1-Antitrypsin Deficiency.- VII. Pediatric Liver Diseases.- 21 Wilson's Disease.- 22 Neonatal Jaundice: When Is it Physiologic?.- 23 Manifestations of Inherited Disorders of Bilirubin Glucuronidation During Infancy and Childhood.- 24 Neonatal Cholestasis.- 25 Other Common/Treatable Childhood Genetic Liver Disorders.- VIII. Women and Liver Diseases.- 26 Pregnancy and Liver Disease.- IX. Special Management Considerations.- 27 Ascites/Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis.- 28 Hepatic Encephalopathy.- 29 Portal Hypertension/GI Bleeding.- 30 Acute Hepatic Failure.