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)

Cirrhosis is a histologic term that requires liver biopsy for definitive diagnosis. Although we may usefully classify cirrhosis by cause, such as alcoholic cirrhosis, the morphologic diagnosis is confined to only a few descriptive terms. Cirrhosis is the end result of hepatocellular necrosis that initiates the inflammatory process. Hepatocellular necrosis induced by the hepatoviruses is caused by the host response to the parasitized cells rather than by the viruses themselves. Inflammatory cells, apparently by diverse mechanisms that include the immune system, stimulate the deposition of collagen around hepatocytes and in sinusoidal membranes, causing profound alteration in hepatocyte function and hepatic blood flow. Fully developed cirrhosis cannot be reversed with therapy presently available. Efforts to change morbidity and mortality of this common disease include preventive measures, attempts to manipulate the immune response, efforts to influence the biologic process of fibrosis, and, finally, attempts to induce resorption of established collagen. No acceptable therapy to prevent cirrhosis currently exists, but there is reason to believe that one can and will be developed in the future, probably through the discovery of better methods of eliminating the persistent infection by hepatoviruses. The most encouraging results to date come from experiments using prednisone followed by interferon, and from very preliminary results with methotrexate in specific circumstances. In the meantime, the clinician will continue to support the existing physiology, minimize and treat the complications, and offer support to the patient and family.
 ...
PMID:Cirrhosis of the liver: new concepts. 264 80

A toxic effect of alcohol is the principal cause of the development of liver disease in alcoholism. Fatty infiltration of the liver is a consequence of ethanol metabolism due mainly to an increased synthesis and decreased degradation of fatty acids. Mechanisms that have been suggested for ethanol-induced hepatocellular necrosis include centrolobular hypoxia due to an increased oxygen requirement and intracellular accumulation of protein, fat, and water which results in increased cell size. Hepatocellular necrosis, however, may not be a necessary stage in the development of cirrhosis. Chronic ethanol administration increases hepatic collagen deposition, and acute and chronic ethanol administration inhibit liver cell regeneration. Increased humoral and cellular immunological activity to liver tissue and its components may contribute to the persistence of liver disease in the alcoholic. However, only a small proportion of alcoholics and baboons fed alcohol develop cirrhosis, suggesting that other factors, either genetic, environmental, or nutritional, play a role. Malnutrition is common in alcoholics. Liver disease is more common in some malnourished populations, and has been produced by nutrient deficiencies. Decreased dietary intake, as well as malabsorption and alterations in the metabolism of nutrients, are causes of nutrient deficiencies in alcoholism. Some of the effects of alcohol on the liver may be mediated by its actions on nutrient absorption and metabolism.
 ...
PMID:Alcoholic liver disease: roles of alcohol and malnutrition. 700 89

Hepatic necrosis is a common reaction to liver injury of various etiologies. The response is regeneration. As reviewed earlier, reconstitution of liver mass may proceed via two mechanisms: (1) re-entry of surviving, functionally intact differentiated liver cells into the cell cycle, where they may remain for several rounds of replication, and (2) recruitment of hepatic progenitor cells, whereby the liver mass is replaced by extensive proliferation and differentiation of more primitive cell types. Although both mechanisms appear to share a number of regulatory factors, distinct differences exist that are reflected in the complex and intricate networks of interacting cells, cytokines, and ECM molecules constituting the regenerative process. The development of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis is probably an unwanted but frequent byproduct of the regenerative process, similar to scar formation in any other tissue following extensive damage. Although intensive research in recent years has yielded a wealth of information about regenerative processes, a better understanding of the elements regulating the regenerative process is crucial for effective intervention to prevent or minimize fibrosis while providing optimal conditions for regeneration. Because our only experimental tool is observation in human studies, we must continue the use of experimental animal models including those of transgenic mice to further elucidate the complex interactions of cytokines, ECM, and target cells in the development of liver fibrogenesis, cirrhosis, and cancer.
 ...
PMID:Hepatic regeneration. The role of regeneration in pathogenesis of chronic liver diseases. 879 75

Virus hepatitis and liver cirrhosis are found at high incidence in Asia, and they require not only biochemical examination of blood but also subsequent imaging, because they are often complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). It is, therefore, very important to know the specific appearances of hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and HCC when we diagnose these diffuse liver diseases. Liver necrosis due to severe hepatitis is seen as high intensity on T2-weighted spin echo images. Regeneration is seen as low intensity on T2-weighted images. Morphologic and pathologic changes of cirrhotic liver are well demonstrated by MR imaging techniques. Fibrotic septum with inflammatory cell infiltration or rich pseudo bile duct show high intensity on T2-weighted images, and regenerating nodules shows low intensity. Gradient echo images show regenerating nodules with iron deposition as low-intensity nodules due to susceptibility artifact. MRI also has the potential to evaluate function of diffuse liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatitis. MRI can visualize and diagnose HCC objectively. Dynamic MRI is very useful for diagnosing HCC. It is also applied for evaluation of effect after transcatheter arterial chemoembolization, because it shows enhancement only in the viable region at an arterial phase. MRI is less invasive and is thus an extremely important form of liver imaging.
 ...
PMID:Hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatoma. 956 61

Chronic oral arsenic (As) ingestion has been alleged to cause hepatic fibrosis, non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver. The present study was aimed to investigate if hepatic fibrogenesis and non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis (NCPF) is caused by arsenic. A significant increase in the hepatic protein and collagen was seen compared with controls; hepatic 4-hydroxyproline levels, indicative of fibrogenesis, were increased 4-14 folds with different dosages of arsenic compared to the controls. Hepatocellular necrosis and inflammation were negligible to mild in all the groups. None of the animals developed significant splenomegaly or features of non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. The results suggest that (i) prolonged oral arsenic ingestion in mice leads to significant hepatic fibrogenesis and collagen synthesis with minimal hepato-cellular injury; (ii) arsenic ingestion alone is unlikely to cause non-cirrhotic portal fibrosis or cirrhosis of liver. This murine model of arsenic feeding could be used for the evaluation of new antifibrotic agents for the liver.
 ...
PMID:Hepatic fibrogenesis using chronic arsenic ingestion: studies in a murine model. 1064 Nov 34