Guide To The Symptoms And Diagnosis Of Lysosomal Acid Lipase Deficiency

Liver Fibrosis

Patients with LAL-D often have significant liver damage, and this can result in liver fibrosis, a precursor to liver cirrhosis. Fibrosis of the liver develops as the liver attempts to repair itself and replace the damaged cells. This produces an excessive amount of scar tissue within the liver itself, and it normally causes no symptoms unless it progresses to cirrhosis. To detect fibrosis, doctors perform blood tests and imaging studies as needed, and sometimes, a liver biopsy may be required. This information enables clinicians to determine if the fibrosis is mild or more severe. Patients who have fibrosis will need to be monitored frequently by liver specialists. Although there is currently no treatment for fibrosis, medications that may reduce the extent of the disease are being investigated.

Read about how lysosomal acid lipase deficiency is diagnosed next.