Cirrhosis

Question 1

What are the three defining factors of cirrhosis?

Answer 1

Diffuse process
Fibrosis
Nodule formation

Question 2

Cirrhosis is the end stage of liver disease. T/F?

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Describe the development of cirrhosis

Answer 3

Cirrhosis develops when there is a persistence of an injury causing agent which leads to chronic inflammation which gives fibrous scarring and hepatocyte regeneration which gives rise to hyperplastic nodules
This causes an architectural abnormality which impacts on the vascular supply leading to ischaemia which gives further loss of hepatocytes and thus further inflammation and hepatocyte regeneration

Question 4

What are the causes of cirrhosis?

Answer 4

Alcohol
Hepatitis
Biliary disease
Haemochromastosis

Question 5

What are some of the complications which can arise from cirrhosis?

Answer 5

Portal hypertension
Liver failure
Hepatocellular cancer