Cirrhosis - causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

Osmosis from Elsevier2 minutes read

Dead tissue from injured cells leads to fibrosis in conditions like alcoholic liver disease or chronic viral attacks, progressing to cirrhosis and causing complications such as portal hypertension, ascites, and hepatic encephalopathy. Diagnosis involves liver biopsy and lab tests, with treatment focusing on addressing the underlying cause, potentially requiring a liver transplant for advanced cases.

Insights

  • Fibrotic scar tissue formation in cirrhosis is primarily driven by activated stellate cells producing collagen, leading to portal hypertension and ascites due to compression of central veins and sinusoids.
  • Liver dysfunction in cirrhosis can result in a range of complications, including hepatic encephalopathy with symptoms like mental deficits and coma, necessitating diagnosis through liver biopsy and lab tests showing elevated bilirubin and liver enzymes, with treatment often focusing on addressing the underlying cause and considering liver transplant for severe cases.

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Recent questions

  • What causes scar tissue in the liver?

    Activated stellate cells produce collagen.

  • What are the complications of cirrhosis?

    Complications include splenomegaly and hepatorenal failure.

  • How is cirrhosis diagnosed?

    Diagnosis involves liver biopsy and lab tests.

  • What are the symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy?

    Symptoms include mental deficits and coma.

  • How is liver dysfunction treated in cirrhosis?

    Treatment focuses on addressing the underlying cause.

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Summary

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"Cirrhosis: Scar Tissue, Liver Dysfunction, Treatment"

  • Dead tissue from injured cells becomes fibrotic, thickened with protein, forming scar tissue in conditions like alcoholic liver disease or chronic viral attacks like HBV.
  • Liver damage can progress to cirrhosis, an irreversible state often referred to as "end-stage" liver damage, characterized by regenerative nodules and fibrotic tissue between liver cells.
  • Fibrosis in cirrhosis is mediated by activated stellate cells producing collagen, leading to scar tissue formation that compresses central veins and sinusoids, causing portal hypertension and ascites.
  • Complications of cirrhosis include congestive splenomegaly, hypersplenism, and portosystemic shunts diverting blood flow, leading to renal vasoconstriction and hepatorenal failure.
  • Liver dysfunction in cirrhosis can result in hepatic encephalopathy due to toxins reaching the brain, causing mental deficits, tremors, and coma, as well as complications like gynecomastia, jaundice, and hypoalbuminemia.
  • Diagnosis of cirrhosis involves liver biopsy and lab tests showing elevated bilirubin, liver enzymes, alkaline phosphatase, and thrombocytopenia, with treatment focusing on addressing the underlying cause and potentially requiring a liver transplant for advanced cases.
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