1;Dedication;5 2;Dedications;6 3;Authors;7 4;Preface to the third Edition;8 5;Foreword to the third edition;9 6;Preface to the second edition;10 7;Foreword to the second edition;11 8;Preface to the first edition;12 9;Foreword to the first edition;14 10;Abbreviations;15 11;Contents;20 12;Introduction to hepatology;21 12.1;1 History of Hepatology;21 12.1.1;Hepatology from ancient to modern times;22 12.1.2;1 Liver research in antiquity;22 12.1.3;2 Liver research in the Middle Ages;28 12.1.4;3 Liver research up to modern times;31 12.2;2 Morphology of the Liver;34 12.2.1;1 Embryology of the liver;35 12.2.2;2 General anatomy of the liver;36 12.2.3;3 Structure and histology of the liver;39 12.2.4;4 Nervous system;45 12.2.5;5 Hepatic lobules and acinus;45 12.2.6;6 Subcellular structures;48 12.3;3 Biochemistry and Functions of the Liver;53 12.3.1;1 Metabolic functions of the liver ;54 12.3.2;2 Regulatory metabolic mechanisms;54 12.3.3;3 Bilirubin metabolism of the liver;55 12.3.4;4 Porphyrin metabolism of the liver;56 12.3.5;5 Bile acid metabolism of the liver;57 12.3.6;6 Amino acid and protein metabolism of the liver;60 12.3.7;7 Carbohydratemetabolism of the liver;62 12.3.8;8 Lipid metabolism of the liver;64 12.3.9;9 Hormone metabolism and the liver;67 12.3.10;10 Vitamin metabolism and the liver;69 12.3.11;11 Trace elements and the liver;71 12.3.12;12 Biotransformation and detoxification;74 12.3.13;13 Ammonia detoxification and bicarbonate neutralization;79 12.3.14;14 Alcohol uptake and degradation;82 12.3.15;15 Reticuloendothelial system;87 12.3.16;16 Radicals and antioxidants;88 12.3.17;17 Cellular transport processes;91 13;Diagnostics in Liver Diseases;95 13.1;4 Clinical findings;95 13.1.1;1 Elements of liver diagnostics;96 13.1.2;2 Clinical findings;98 13.1.3;3 Liver check list;110 13.2;5 Laboratory diagnostics;112 13.2.1;1 Four epochs of laboratory liver diagnostics;113 13.2.2;2 Difficulties of laboratory liver diagnostics;113 13.2.3;3 Prerequisites for correct laboratory findings;114 13.2.4;4 Selection criteria for liver tests;115 13.2.5;5 Assessment of hepatocellular integrity;116 13.2.6;6 Disorders of excretion;122 13.2.7;7 Disorders of synthesis capacity;126 13.2.8;8 Disorders of metabolism ;130 13.2.9;9 Diagnostics of liver functions;130 13.2.10;10 Assessment of mesenchymal reaction;133 13.2.11;11 Serological diagnostics of viral hepatitis;135 13.2.12;12 Immunological diagnostics;140 13.2.13;13 Biochemical algorithmic diagnostics;144 13.3;6 Sonography;148 13.3.1;1 Physical principles;149 13.3.2;2 Special sonographic techniques;150 13.3.3;3 Examination of the liver;153 13.3.4;4 Diffuse liver diseases;155 13.3.5;5 Circumscribed liver diseases;158 13.3.6;6 Examination of the spleen;162 13.4;7 Liver biopsy and laparoscopy;166 13.4.1;1 Liver biopsy;167 13.4.2;2 Laparoscopy;174 13.4.3;3 New technical progress;187 13.4.4;4 Synopsis and recommendation;187 13.5;8 Radiological diagnostics;194 13.5.1;1 Computer tomography;195 13.5.2;2 Magnetic resonance imaging;201 13.5.3;3 Angiography;203 13.5.4;4 Cholangiography;208 13.6;9 Scintigraphic diagnostics;216 13.6.1;1 Principle;217 13.6.2;2 RES scintigraphy;217 13.6.3;3 Hepatobiliary sequential scintigraphy;218 13.6.4;4 Erythrocyte scintigraphy;220 13.6.5;5 Positron emission tomography;220 13.6.6;6 Flow diagram in suspected " liver tumour";221 13.7;10 Neurological and psychological diagnostics;224 13.7.1;1 Brain disorders in liver diseases;225 13.7.2;2 Diagnosis of disorders in cerebral performance;225 13.7.3;3 Basic psychometric programme;227 13.7.4;4 Synopsis;231 14;Symptoms and Syndromes;233 14.1;11 Hepatomegaly and splenomegaly;233 14.1.1;1 Hepatomegaly;234 14.1.2;2 Splenomegaly;236 14.2;12 Jaundice;239 14.2.1;1 Definition;240 14.2.2;2 Localization of bilirubin;240 14.2.3;3 Different shades of jaundice;240 14.2.4;4 Clinical classification of jaundice;240 14.2.5;5 Functional hyperbilirubinaemias;243 14.2.6;6 Differential diagnosis of jaundice;248 14.2.7;7 Therapy;249 14.3;13 Cholestasis;