en.malanginspirasi.com – The early prevention of liver damage is very crucial so it is a necessity for anyone to make an early action due to this matter.
Hepatitis and Digestive Tract Infection Diseases (PISP) expert, Prof. Dr. David Handojo Muljono, Sp.PD mentioned at a presetation at the Healthy Liver Awareness 2026 event, in Jakarta on Tuesday, June 2nd 2026.
Collaborating with the Ministry of Health (Kemenkes), the theme of the event is ‘Solid Habit, Strong Liver’.
During his presentation, he mentioned that the liver plays a vital role in maintaining human survival because it works non-stop 24/7.
“This organ is known as the body’s “largest chemical factory,” carrying out various important functions, from detoxification and metabolism to producing proteins needed by the body,” he explained.
Furthermore, he stated that the liver plays a crucial role in filtering various harmful substances entering the body, including drugs and alcohol, through a natural detoxification process.
“The liver also regulates carbohydrate, fat, and protein metabolism, and stores them in the form of glycogen as the body’s energy reserve,” he said.
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Besides, the liver produces important proteins such as albumin, which helps maintain fluid balance in the body. Albumin deficiency can trigger swelling in the legs and fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity.
Other functions include the formation of blood clotting factors, bile production to aid fat digestion and the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, and K, and a role in the immune system by capturing and destroying bacteria and foreign substances.
Dr. David Handojo explained that liver damage can be triggered by various factors, such as viral infections, alcohol consumption, fatty liver disease, autoimmune diseases, and metabolic disorders.
Generally, the process of liver damage begins with inflammation. If it persists, this condition can trigger the formation of scar tissue, or fibrosis, as the body’s response.
“Fibrosis in the early stages can still be repaired. However, if it continues, scar tissue will replace normal liver tissue and progress to cirrhosis,” he explained.
In cirrhosis, the liver structure becomes hard, blood flow is disrupted, and organ function declines. This condition can lead to complications such as abdominal enlargement due to fluid accumulation, yellowing of the eyes, and blood clotting disorders.
Prevention and Early Detection
He emphasized that liver disease management focuses not only on treatment but also on prevention and early detection.
Prevention can be achieved through vaccination, maintaining an ideal body weight, adopting a healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoiding alcohol consumption and risky behaviors.
Meanwhile, several efforts for early detection include liver function tests, blood tests, ultrasounds, and non-invasive methods such as elastography to assess the level of fibrosis.
“The earlier liver abnormalities are detected, the greater the chance of recovery and preventing the condition from becoming more severe,” he added.
Medical treatment is also tailored to the cause, such as administering antivirals for viral hepatitis, cessation of alcohol consumption, weight control for fatty liver disease, and specific therapy for autoimmune diseases.
In advanced cases, therapy can include medical interventions, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and even liver transplantation as a last resort.
Dr. David said that the key message in treating liver disease is to stop the damage early before it progresses to a more severe condition.
“The sooner liver damage is stopped, the greater the chance of recovery and avoiding serious complications,” he concluded.
