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

Alcoholic liver damage is associated with the development of portal hypertension quite early, as a result of increasing fibrosis. By means of laparoscopic transhepatic manometry (LTM) in the branches of the portal and hepatic veins, we measured the pressure levels in 15 patients with early and transitional-stage alcoholic injury extending to cirrhosis of the liver, and compared them with histological and laboratory investigation criteria. We discovered that parenchymal damage with portal and centrolobular fibrosis already gave rise to some portal hypertension which, compared to a group showing histological changes of remodelling or cirrhosis, constantly increased. In completely developed alcoholic cirrhosis (n = 41), the pressure levels reached a peak. Despite this fact, bleeding from oesophageal varices cannot be predicted. Over the period of observation of 33 months, 4 deaths occurred (portal vein pressure between 4.5 to 5 kPa = 34.0 to 38.8 mm Hg), and three variceal bleedings we were able to manage were seen (pressures between 3.6 to 4.3 kPa = 27.0 and 32.0 mm Hg). Compared to hepatitic cirrhosis the prognosis was slightly more favourable.
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PMID:[Portal hypertension associated with alcoholic liver damage (author's transl)]. 9 37

Alcoholic liver damage is only produced by constant alcohol intake. Close dose and time relationships are apparent. For many years, alcoholic fatty liver is the only noticeable alteration. It is completely reversible in 2-4 weeks when ethanol intake is stopped. After about 6 years of chronic abuse alcoholic hepatitis may develop. Once established it progresses within weeks or months to cirrhosis if ethanol intake is not discontinued. On the other hand, alcoholic hepatitis heals under complete abstenence from alcohol with unimportant fibrosis. After over-indulgence in alcohol over a period of 22 years, there is a 50% probability of cirrhosis. This shows clearly that the resistance of the liver to alcohol varies considerably in different individuals. Even in early stages of alcoholic cirrhosis the prognosis is reasonable. If these patients observe complete abstenence from ethanol, their life expectation is only slightly different from the average of the population. The extent of the consumption of alcohol is of decisive importance for the development of cirrhosis. New and very careful investigations reveal that the susceptibility to alcohol is different in both sexes. For men the danger level would thus appear to be around 60 g and for women around 20 g of pure alcohol a day. Beyond these critical levels the morbidity of cirrhosis multiplies almost in geometric progression with increasing amounts of ethanol.
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PMID:Alcohol consumption and diseases of the liver. 91 49