Cirrhosis

Question 1

Liver vs Cirrhosis

-What are they?

Answer 1

i) Liver Disease
- Any disease or disorder that causes the liver to function improperly
- Can be acute or chronic

ii) Cirrhosis
- Final phase of chronic liver disease
- Fibrosis and scarring present
- Poor liver function

Question 2

Causes of chronic liver disease/ cirrhosis

Answer 2

Most important:

• Alcohol
• Hepatitis B & C
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Not as important:

• Primary biliary cirrhosis, primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Genetic/Metabolic: Hemochromatosis, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, Wilson’s Disease
• Drugs: More commonly acute liver injury

Question 3

Cirrhosis:

Signs and Symptoms

Answer 3

• Hepatomegaly
• Pruritus, jaundice
• Palmar erythema, spider angiomata
• Ascites, edema,
• Painful, tense abdomen
• Confusion-if encephalopathic
• Asterixis