4. A Close Look at Cirrhosis:
Cirrhosis is a liver disease characterized by extensive fibrosis
with regenerative nodule formation, and distortion of liver
structure.
It is referred to as the end stage of many chronic liver diseases.
The progression of a specific chronic liver disease to cirrhosis can
take many years and is dependent upon many factors such as the
severity of the liver disease, lifestyle, and overall health of the
individual.
Cirrhosis is an irreversible condition that also has serious
complications.
6. what is the sign and who is it name
for ?
medusa
7. causes
Liver cell necrosis
Inflammatory cell infiltate
Fibrosis
Nodular regeneration which may be macronodular (alcohol),
micronodular (viral) or mixed
Alcohol
Viral B/C
Cryptogenic
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Hemochromatosis
Wilsons
Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency
Autoimmune
Sclerosing Cholangitis
8.
9. What Are the Signs and Symptoms?
Fluid retention in the legs and abdomen –The liver produces a protein, called albumin, that
holds fluid in blood vessels. When the blood level of albumen falls, fluid seeps out of the
tissues into the legs and abdomen, causing edema (fluid accumulation) and swelling.
Jaundice –The liver produces bile that normally flows into the intestine.With advanced
cirrhosis, bile can back up into the blood, causing the skin and eyes to turn yellow and the
urine to darken.
Intense Itching –Certain types of cirrhosis, such as chronic bile duct blockage, can produce
troublesome itching.
Gallstones –Cirrhosis causes the abnormal metabolism of bile pigment. Because of this,
gallstones develop twice as often in cirrhosis patients as in those without the disorder.
Coagulation Defects –The liver makes certain proteins that help clot blood. When these
proteins are deficient, excessive or prolonged bleeding happens.
Mental Function Change –The liver processes toxins from the intestine. When these
substances escape into the bloodstream, as occurs in severe cases of cirrhosis, a variety of
changes in mental function can develop.
Esophageal Vein Bleeding –In advanced cirrhosis, intestinal blood bypasses the liver and
flows up and around the esophagus (the food tube) to the heart. The veins in the esophagus
dilate (widen) and may rupture, causing slow or massive intestinal bleeding.
10. stigmata of liver disease
hand :
Palmar Erythema
Clubbing
Dupytrens
Leuconychia
FLAPPING TREMOR
HEENT/UPPER BODY
Jaundice
Spider Angiomata
Gynaecomastia and scant body hair
Scratch marks
ABDOMEN
Ascites
Hepatosplenomegal
Caput Medusa
Hemorrhoids on PR
Small testes
11. Diagnosis and Liver Biopsy
The physician can always suspect cirrhosis from the patient’s
medical history and physical examination. In addition, certain
blood tests and scans or ultrasound (sonography) can provide
helpful information. To make a definite diagnosis, however, a
liver biopsy (tissue sample) is required. This is performed by
anesthetizing the skin of the right-lower chest and inserting a
thin, needle into the liver. A core or specimen of tissue is
removed and examined under a microscope.
12.
13. Lab findings
Liver function tests - ALT and AST
Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
Hemochromatosis
Wilsons
Gallstones and cholecystitis
Complications of end stage liver disease
Ascites
SBP
Hepatorenal Syndrome
Encephalopathy
14. What Is the Course of Cirrhosis?
When cirrhosis is diagnosed, the patient and
physician begin a plan of action designed to
preserve the remaining liver cells and correct
the complications mentioned above. By
following this plan, most patients can lead long,
productive lives.
15. Understanding Pathophysiology:
Normally, hepatocytes are capable of considerable regeneration. However,
chronic damage (from viral infection, heavy alcohol consumption, trauma
and other factors) can lead to scarring.
This scarring is referred to as fibrosis. Formation of scar tissue is a
normal bodily response to injury.
The injury or death (necrosis) of hepatocytes stimulates inflammatory
immune cells to release cytokines, growth factors, and other chemicals.
These chemical messengers direct support cells in the liver called hepatic
stellate cells to activate and produce collagen, a fibrous connective tissue
that gets deposited in the liver. In fibrosis, excessive scar tissue builds
up faster than it can be broken down and removed from the liver.
If the disease progresses, it can lead to cirrhosis, a condition in which
the liver is severely scarred, its blood flow is restricted, and its ability
to function is impaired.
The nodular regeneration of the liver tissue, permanently alters the
structure of the liver.
16. complications &
preventions
Complications:
The major complications of cirrhosis are similar in both alcoholic and nonalcoholic patients:
Portal hypertensive bleeding Increased blood pressure in the blood vessels supplying the liver
due to increased in vessel resistance. Portal hypertension leads to the development of new
veins called collateral veins, at the end of esophagus and at the upper portion of the stomach.
These collateral veins become varicose veins that are prone to bleeding. Ascites Excess fluid
in the peritoneal cavity Hepatic encephalopathy Mental confusion , change in the level of
consciousness Hepatocellular carcinoma Most common liver cancer Complications
Treatment and Prevention:
Cirrhosis cannot be cured. Treatments are geared to slow the progression of disease.
Treatments depend on the underlying cause of the disease, and also on the complications
present. For example, if the cause is chronic alcoholism, then the patient must cease
consumption of alcohol. In severe cases, liver transplant is necessary. Preventative measures
are extremely important. Limit alcohol intake, if possible, abstain Get Hepatitis B vaccination
Protect yourself from hazardous bodily fluids that may contain hepatitis virus Yearly physical
examinations Treatment and Prevention
17. Prevention
Perhaps 90 percent of cirrhosis is caused by excessive alcohol
consumption or hepatitis viruses. Of course, alcohol can be
avoided. Alcohol consumption should always be limited to no
more than 1 or 2 drinks per day. And type B hepatitis now has an
effective vaccine against it. Vaccination against B hepatitis
virus is safe and inexpensive. It should be taken especially by
certain high-risk groups: all health care professionals, persons
traveling to third world countries, homosexuals, intravenous
drug users, and prostitutes.
18. Treatment
Often, the only required treatment for cirrhosis is removing the offending
cause:
he alcoholic patient must permanently stop consuming alcohol.
When iron is being retained in the body, chronic removal of blood by vein
eliminates large amounts of iron.
Cortisone medicine helps treat autoimmune hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Restricting salt and using fluid pills (diuretics ) reduce edema and
abdominal swelling.
Toxins and injurious drugs must be avoided.
Decreasing dietary protein and using certain laxatives generally can
prevent changes in mental function.
Bleeding veins in the esophagus can be injected with sclerosing (clotting)
agents or closed with small rubber bands. Occasionally, surgery is
necessary to prevent recurrent massive bleeding.
Ursodiol (Actigall) and other drugs have been helpful in treating primary
biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
20. summary
cheers think b4
Cirrhosis of the liver is a common disorder that has many
causes. With early diagnosis, much can be done to prevent
serious complications.
Various treatments are available, depending on the cause
of the liver injury and its complications.
Ongoing medical research promises major advances in
treating cirrhosis in the future.
