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By Mayo Clinic staffTreatment of an enlarged liver depends on the cause.
- Alcohol abuse. If the enlarged liver is alcohol-related, it's essential to stop drinking alcohol. Discuss the best way to stop drinking with your doctor. Although liver damage from cirrhosis is irreversible, treatment can often help prevent further damage and reduce complications.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Weight loss and exercise are often an essential part of treatment. It's also important to avoid alcohol and keep your cholesterol under control. If you have diabetes, manage your blood sugar carefully.
- Hepatitis. There's no specific treatment for hepatitis A, but the infection usually resolves. Medication may be recommended for hepatitis B or C. If your liver has been severely damaged, a liver transplant may be an option.
- Heart failure. Various medications are used to treat heart failure. Some take the burden of extra fluid off the liver.
- Liver cancer. Depending on the type and stage of the disease and various other factors, liver cancer may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy.
- Blood disorders. With hemochromatosis, regularly drawing blood can reduce the amount of iron the liver has to process. Treatment for leukemia is complex. Therapies may include chemotherapy and radiation.