Liver Cirrhosis

Question 1

When do most patients with liver cirrhosis experience symptoms?

Answer 1

late disease; decompensation

Question 2

What are the precipitating factors of cirrhosis?

Answer 2

Hepatitis C and B
Alcohol
Fatty liver
Non-alcoholic liver disease
Drug-induced liver disease

Question 3

What do fibrotic changes in the liver lead to?

Answer 3

1. collapse of structure
2. increased resistance in portal blood flow
3. decrease in synthetic function

Question 4

Is fibrosis of the liver reversible?

Answer 4

yes, gradually

Question 5

What indicates the transition of chronic liver disease to cirrhosis?

Answer 5

Inflammation (fibrogenesis)
Angiogenesis
Portal Hypertension

Question 6

What 2 factors are needed for diagnosis of cirrhosis?

Answer 6

1. imaging of irregular or nodular liver
2. impaired synthetic liver function

Question 7

What stage is compensated with no esophageal varices?

Answer 7

stage 1

Question 8

What stage is compensated with varices?

Answer 8

stage 2

Question 9

What stage is decompensated with ascites?

Answer 9

stage 3

Question 10

What stage is decompensated with GI bleeds?

Answer 10

stage 4

Question 11

What stage involves infections and renal failure?

Answer 11

stage 5

Question 12

What are the clinical presentations of cirrhosis?

Answer 12

1. fatigue
2. jaundice
3. dark urine
4. light stools
5. itching
6. abdominal pain
7. bloating

Question 13

What are the other symptoms of cirrhosis?

Answer 13

1. red palms
2. spider angioma
3. ecchymoses