Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0023890 (cirrhosis)
 42,195 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

To investigate the gonadal dysfunction and changes in sex hormones in male patients with postnecrotic cirrhosis, and to compare them with those in alcoholic cirrhotic men, three age-matched groups of men (hepatitis B virus-related postnecrotic cirrhosis 27, alcoholic cirrhosis 21, normal controls 30) were studied. Twelve of the 21 (57%) alcoholic cirrhotics and 16 of the 27 (59%) postnecrotic cirrhotics had a history of impotence. Both alcoholic and postnecrotic cirrhotic patients had significantly lower basal testosterone, but higher estradiol and prolactin levels than the control group (p less than 0.05). However, no differences were noted between the two cirrhotic groups. The degree of reduced testosterone and increased prolactin levels correlated with the severity of the cirrhosis. Despite the low testosterone concentration, basal levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) were not increased in the cirrhotic patients. All the three groups studied had normal FSH and LH responses to the stimulation of exogenous gonadotropin releasing hormone. On the basis of these results, we conclude that: (1) impotence and low testosterone level are not infrequent findings in men with hepatitis B virus-related postnecrotic cirrhosis, especially in those with decompensated liver function. (2) The liver disease per se is important for the development of male sexual dysfunction. (3) The derangement of hypothalamic-pituitary function may play a role in the sexual dysfunction and changes in sex hormones in male patients with cirrhosis.
 ...
PMID:Gonadal dysfunction and changes in sex hormones in postnecrotic cirrhotic men: a matched study with alcoholic cirrhotic men. 177 85

The hormones testosterone, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH) were assayed in blood obtained from men with alcoholic liver disease before and after successful liver transplantation. The frequency and severity of self reported impotence, intercourse, and paternity were assessed before and 18 +/- 3 months post-transplantation. The results obtained were compared with those of age-matched males transplanted within the same month by the same surgical teams for advanced hepatocellular disease other than alcoholism. Little change for any parameter assessed pre- and post-transplantation was noted for the nonalcoholics. In contrast, the FSH, LH, and testosterone levels of the alcoholic men all increased significantly following successful transplantation. These data suggest that the liver disease associated with alcoholism contributes to some of the endocrine effects of alcohol-associated cirrhosis but not all. Because the transplanted alcoholics remain less adequate than controls, it is further suggested that some residual alcohol-induced injury to the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis persists despite successful liver transplantation.
 ...
PMID:Effect of liver transplantation on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis of chronic alcoholic men with advanced liver disease. 211 98

Gonadal function in idiopathic hemochromatosis (IHC) was evaluated by comparing clinical features and levels of sex hormones in 10 male patients with IHC (cirrhosis, 4; fibrosis, 6), 6 male patients with alcoholic cirrhosis (AC) and 10 healthy, age-matched controls. Impotence was present in 9 IHC and all AC patients and was associated with decreased plasma testosterone levels. However, gynecomastia, a feature in all patients with AC, was not present in IHC, and plasma sex hormone binding globulin was normal. Patients with IHC showed significantly lower basal estradiol levels (17.7 +/- 6.3 pg per ml) than did controls (28.5 +/- 8.5 pg per ml), and low LH levels (p less than 0.01), which were insufficiently stimulated by luteinizing hormone releasing hormone (n = 8) as well as a decrease in prolactin concentration (2.9 +/- 1.4 vs. 5.9 +/- 1.9 ng per ml in the controls) suggesting pituitary failure. Synthesizing capacity of sex hormones was determined by adrenocorticotropic hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administration. Basal and stimulated levels of androstenedione and cortisol indicated normal function of the adrenals in IHC. However after adrenocorticotropic hormone, estrone levels increased to only 16.2 +/- 8.4 pg per ml (controls, 27.3 +/- 4.7 pg per ml; p less than 0.01). Increments of estrone (12.5 +/- 9.2 pg per ml) and estradiol (17.9 +/- 11.6 pg per ml) were also lower in IHC following human chorionic gonadotropin administration than in controls (26.0 +/- 7.2 and 37.5 +/- 11.4 pg per ml, respectively). In contrast, plasma human chorionic gonadotropin raised testosterone levels 3.3-fold in IHC and 2.2-fold in controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Androgen and estrogen response to adrenal and gonadal stimulation in idiopathic hemochromatosis: evidence for decreased estrogen formation. 298 1

Hyperprolactinemia is frequent in clinical endocrinology. Its commonest causes are, besides pregnancy and lactation, drugs, mainly involving the generally used psychopharmaca and the equally ubiquitously prescribed estrogens. The single most important cause is a pituitary tumor, the prolactinoma, but lesions of the hypothalamus or pituitary stalk, primary hypothyroidism, liver cirrhosis and chronic renal failure, among others, may also provoke hyperprolactinemia. The clinical features of hyperprolactinemia in women are mainly amenorrhea, or irregular menses, galactorrhea, hirsutism, infertility and loss of libido. In men loss of libido and/or impotence are the most important symptoms, accompanied by infertility. Macroadenoma, more frequently seen in men than in women, may cause tumor symptoms such as headache and ophthalmologic disorders (visual field loss). The main biochemical finding is hyperprolactinemia, which should be repeatedly checked. In general, high concentrations are mainly found in large adenomas, while microadenomas usually involve only mild hyperprolactinemia, though there are numerous exceptions. While dynamic tests of prolactin secretion have provided useful information about the pathophysiology of prolactin secretion, their use in routine clinical work is controversial and of limited value. As a routine neuroradiological examination, high resolution CT of the pituitary area is to be recommended. In all hyperprolactinemic patients with suspicion of macroadenoma, ophthalmologic evaluation of fundus and visual fields should be performed. Dopaminergic drugs such as bromocriptine rapidly reduce serum prolactin levels in hyperprolactinemic women and men with micro- or macroadenoma. With these drugs considerable tumor shrinkage is possible.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:[Hyperprolactinemia]. 395 83

Zinc sulfate was administered in a double-blind manner for 6-8 months to cirrhotic outpatients with impotence and/or hypogonadism. Seven placebo and six zinc-treated patients showed mild symptomatic improvement; however, there was no significant clinical difference between the two groups. Serum zinc levels rose significantly in the zinc-treated group but urinary gonadotropin and serum testosterone levels did not change in either group. Zinc sulfate does not appear to be an effective treatment for sexual dysfunction associated with alcohol-induced hepatic cirrhosis.
 ...
PMID:Effect of the administration of zinc sulfate on hypogonadism and impotence in patients with chronic stable hepatic cirrhosis. 635 Apr 4

The prevalence of impotence is increased in males who chronically abuse alcohol. Further, impotence may occur in the absence of liver disease in such men. In contrast, no data is available concerning the prevalence of impotence in nonalcoholic men with advanced liver disease. To investigate the relationship between alcohol and impotence in cirrhotic men, a self-administered questionnaire was completed by male alcoholic cirrhotics admitted to the medical service as well as by nonalcoholic cirrhotic liver transplant candidates admitted to the medical and surgical services of Presbyterian-University Hospital. Each participant was asked whether or not he had experienced impotence and if so, to report the frequency and duration of his impotence. The frequency of impotence was recorded on a weighted scale with four gradations: 4 = always; 3 = usually; 2 = sometimes; 1 = seldom. In addition, measures of hepatic injury and function as well as measures of the functional integrity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis for each subject evaluated were obtained. Fourteen of the 20 alcoholics with cirrhosis and 10 of the 40 nonalcoholic liver transplant candidates with cirrhosis reported a history of impotence. The association between impotence and alcohol abuse was significant. The impotence index developed by multiplying the frequency by the duration of impotency for each individual demonstrated a more severe degree of impotence in the alcoholics as compared to the nonalcoholics (p less than 0.01). The alcoholics also had lower plasma levels of testosterone and greater plasma levels of gonadotropins as compared to the nonalcoholics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
 ...
PMID:Chronic advanced liver disease and impotence: cause and effect? 650 May 15

In several gastroenterological diseases andrological anomalies have become known. From this point of view up to now the liver cirrhosis has been examined most frequently. In patients with cirrhosis apparently the two functions of the testicles are disturbed. On the one hand, a decreased or missing fertility is to be assumed, on the other hand, a cirrhosis does not always exclude the procreative capacity. The hormone analyses plead for the fact that the hypogonadism might rather be conditioned testicularly, in which case the direct toxicity of alcohol may be of importance. In haemochromatosis the hypogonadism develops by a combined mechanism. The cystic fibrosis of the pancreas is practically always associated with a male infertility. In Crohn's disease a disturbance of the spermatogenesis is observed. Even the salazo-sulphapyridine therapy is accompanied by unfavourable influences on the spermiogramme. Cimetidine used in the ulcer therapy shows a certain antiandrogenic effect and after a longer time may evoke impotence and other undesirable andrological side-effects which we, however, did not realize in 4 weeks treatment periods.
 ...
PMID:[Andrologic anomalies in various gastrointestinal diseases]. 663 7

Distal tubule diuretics (DTDs), including chlorothiazide, hydrochlorothiazide, bendroflumethiazide, chlorthalidone and xipamide, have been found to increase urinary zinc output through a poorly understood mechanism which could involve both direct and hormone-mediated processes. Significant zinc depletion may occur during long-term administration of DTDs, principally in conditions associated with diminished total body zinc levels such as hepatic cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, gastro-intestinal disorders and several renal diseases. Attention to the early symptoms of zinc deficiency such as hypogeusia, hyposmia, abnormal dark adaptation and impotence and the monitoring of serum zinc levels are advisable during long-term treatment with common DTDs.
 ...
PMID:Diuretics and zinc. 711 5

Haemochromatosis is one of the most common inborn errors of metabolism. In prospective epidemiological studies the frequency of haemochromatosis is 0.0037 (76/20333 subjects) for homozygotes which corresponds to a gene frequency of 0.061 and a frequency of heterozygotes of 0.115. Abnormality in liver function tests, weakness and lethargy, skin hyperpigmentation, diabetes mellitus, arthralgia, impotence and ECG abnormalities are the most frequent findings and symptoms at diagnosis. In recent years about 50% of patients were detected without having liver cirrhosis and 20% of patients did not have any symptoms and pathology except iron overload. Survival analyses in long-term studies showed that in the absence of cirrhosis and diabetes, iron removal by phlebotomy therapy prevents further tissue damage and guarantees a normal life expectancy. Patients with massive and long-lasting iron overload had a worse prognosis than those with less severe iron excess. Iron removal in general ameliorated liver disease, weakness and cardiac abnormalities, and also prevented the progression of endocrine alterations. Therapy, however, did not influence insulin-dependent diabetes. Most deaths in patients with hereditary haemochromatosis were caused by liver cancers which often occurred many years after complete iron removal. In patients with haemochromatosis, liver cirrhosis, cardiomyopathy, and diabetes mellitus are also significantly more frequent causes of deaths when compared with the general population. Further strategies have to evaluate the design of screening programmes in order to diagnose more patients in the precirrhotic and asymptomatic stage.
 ...
PMID:Clinical spectrum and management of haemochromatosis. 788 Nov 58

Hereditary hemochromatosis is a common disorder of iron metabolism with a prevalence as high as 8 per 1000. Affected individuals absorb excessive amounts of dietary iron and over time, tissue iron deposition results in skin discoloration, arthropathy, hepatic cirrhosis, heart failure, diabetes mellitus and impotence. Early diagnosis and institution of phlebotomy treatments will prevent these manifestations and normalize life expectancy. Once organ damage is established many of the manifestations are irreversible. Since the early manifestations of the disease are subtle, a case can be made for routine screening. This conclusion is supported by cost-effectiveness analysis based on available data. A reasonable screening strategy would start with a serum transferrin saturation. A value > or = 55% should trigger a repeat transferrin saturation in a fasting state and a serum ferritin level. If both these tests are abnormal, a liver biopsy with quantitative iron determination is the currently accepted confirmatory test.
 ...
PMID:Management of hereditary hemochromatosis. 788 27


1 2 3 Next >>