Viral hepatitis
Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is now a curable disease. Oral antiviral pills taken for 8 to 12 weeks clear the virus in more than 95% of people. What it is, how it spreads and how it is treated.
Trustworthy medical information
Liver diseases, explained with rigor and care
Trustworthy medical information about hepatitis, cirrhosis, fatty liver and other liver diseases, written and reviewed by Dr. Alejandro Soza, hepatologist.
Topics
Browse by clinical area.
Viral hepatitis
Hepatitis A, B, C, D and E: how they spread, what symptoms they cause and their current treatments.
Cirrhosis
Causes, complications and treatment of advanced chronic liver damage.
Fatty liver
Steatotic liver disease (MASLD): the most common cause of liver damage in Chile.
Lab tests
What transaminases, bilirubin, GGT and other liver tests mean.
Symptoms and signs
Jaundice, dark urine, ascites, itching and other signs of liver disease.
Liver tumors
Benign and malignant tumors of the liver and bile ducts.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
Genetic diseases
Hemochromatosis, Gilbert syndrome and polycystic liver disease.
Toxins and drugs
Liver damage from alcohol, acetaminophen, mushrooms and other substances.
Liver transplant
When a liver transplant is needed and what the process involves.
Research
Studies and clinical trials on liver diseases.
Start here
Fatty liver
Fatty liver disease (MASLD)
Fatty liver, now called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), is the most common liver disease. What it is, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis is advanced scarring of the liver. What causes it today, how it is detected, its complications, and why treating the cause can halt or even reverse the damage.
Viral hepatitis
Hepatitis B: transmission, prevention and treatment
What hepatitis B is, how it spreads, why the vaccine prevents it, and how chronic infection is treated with oral antivirals. A guide for patients.
Recent articles
See all contents
Lab tests
Bilirubin: what it is and what a high level means
High bilirubin can be due to hemolysis, Gilbert syndrome, bile duct obstruction or liver disease. How to interpret this test based on its pattern.
Liver transplant
Liver transplant
A liver transplant replaces a diseased liver with a healthy one. Who is a candidate, how patients are prioritized with the MELD score, and what to expect from the process.
Viral hepatitis
Types of hepatitis: viral and non-viral
A short guide to the types of hepatitis: viral (A, B, C, D and E) and non-viral (alcohol, fatty liver, autoimmune and toxic), with their differences at a glance.
Cirrhosis
Causes of liver cirrhosis
The causes of cirrhosis, from the most to the least common, and why identifying and treating the cause early can stop and even reverse liver damage.
Autoimmune diseases
Autoimmune hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis happens when the immune system attacks the liver itself. What it is, how it is diagnosed and how it is treated with corticosteroids and azathioprine.
Symptoms and signs
Dark urine (choluria): what it means and when to worry
Choluria is dark, tea- or cola-colored urine caused by bilirubin in the urine. It is often a sign of liver or bile duct disease. When to see a doctor.