Pathophysiology of liver disease

Pathophysiology-Liver Disease

The case study is of a 66-year-old man who has been drinking and smoking daily for 30 years. He admits to smoking two packs of cigarette per day and to drinking three glasses of brown alcohol daily for 30 years. Currently his family describes his behavior as erratic; he gets frustrated easily and gets quite aggressive at times. He visited his family doctor after a recent episode of hematemesis and forgetfulness. The doctor diagnosed him with ascites, splenomegaly, and hemorrhoids, ammonia levels are elevated, which are all symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver, so he is scheduled for a liver biopsy.

Cirrhosis and Alcohol

Cirrhosis of the liver is where unhealthy tissues replace the normal healthy functional tissues in the liver. In many cases cirrhosis of the liver is caused by alcohol consumption over a long period of time, as in this case study. The liver slowly deteriorates and malfunctions, which prevent its ability to control of infections, remove bacteria and toxins from the blood. It cannot process nutrients, hormones, drugs and make proteins that regulate blood clotting and produce bile to help absorb fats-including cholesterol -- and fat-soluble vitamins (NDDIC, 2010). This is a serious medical condition that causes "Decreased production of blood coagulation factors by the liver plays a key role in altered haemostasis in liver diseases. Altered fragile balance of blood coagulation proteins and infection are associated with both worsening coagulopathy and bleeding risk" (Pluta, 2010).

A liver biopsy is currently the only definite way to diagnose cirrhosis of the liver. Studies have shown that patients diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver must abstain from alcohol to increase survival rate (Verrill et. al., 2009). In a seven-year study patients who abstained from alcohol had a 72% survival rate as compared to a 44% survival rate for patients who continued to drink.

Pathophysiology

The liver has a very important role in synthesizing protein, detoxification and storage of vitamins. It is also a part of the metabolic process for digesting lipids and carbohydrates. Since cirrhosis is when the normal liver tissues are replaced by damaged, scarred tissues, this blocks the flow of blood through the organ and prevents the body from functioning normally. Cirrhois leads to stellate cell, which causes the obstruction of blood flow and circulation.