Topic: What are treatment options for different liver disease?
Introduction
Liver is the most important vascular organ of the body and second largest part of the body after skin. Liver performs various functions of the body such as detoxification, manufacturing of blood cells, bile, hormones, albumin, repair damage cell, combating infection and storage of iron, vitamins and fats. Therefore liver should be free from any injuries and fats because excessive consumption of alcohol, obesity and diabetes are the main causes of different liver diseases. According to recent a report from the Department of Health (2014) in UK that one-in-three children and two-in-three adults are obese and have more potential for liver disease. According to a new statistical report about 6 million of Australians are affected from liver disease (McCaughan 2013). However, different type of approaches should be adopted in order to eradicate different types of liver diseases. A new hormone known as Adiponectin release from adipose tissue but clinical studies on human are not yet performed (Alisi & Nobili 2012). Combination therapy of different drugs also has significant effect on the liver but further research may be required. The main focus of the researchers deals with the efficacy and efficiency of drugs, how they should be improved in order to prevent different liver diseases.
Insulin resistance is the main cause of non-alcoholic liver disease. According to Alisi & Nobili (2012) metformin is mostly use in order to lower down glucose production and increase the glucose uptakes but it also increase ALT level. This is supported by Nadeau et al that metformin significantly helping to overcome liver injuries but the recent clinical trials show some side effect...
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...liver disease after approval from FDA.
In conclusion, liver is vascular organ of body and perform different function. Liver should be free from fats and injuries, different types of drugs are used in liver disease and still some research are going on different drugs and hormones but these researches were performed on limited number of patients because of different side effects and increased mortality rate. More researches and clinical guidelines should be performed on combination therapy of different drugs such as pentoxifylline, vitamin E, steroids and Ursodeoxycholic acid and this will help that how and in which way these drugs should be used in combination in order to prevent liver diseases. The government should provide funds for such types of research work in order to encourage them to eradicate different types of liver diseases.
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Hepatitis A is a usually short acting virus that occurs in humans and monkeys. It is caused by the Hepatovirus and the species is Hepatitis A Virus. There are two major ways in which Hepatitis A can be transmitted. One way is from person to person. This transmission occurs when the fecal matter of an infected person gets ingested by another person. Other ways Hepatitis A can be transmitted from person to person are through direct contact with an infected person, such as sexual contact, and sharing of needles for intravenous drug use. Hepatitis A can also be transmitted through coming in contact with contaminated food or water. Also foods that are uncooked or undercooked and have been contaminated with Hepatitis A can transmit the virus. (Bennett,
This case study is about Abdul Chidiac, a 51 year old male, married with 4 children. He had a medical history of hypertension, hypercholesterolaemia and cirrhosis with two admissions in the last six months. He is a smoker and drinks beer, 5-6 bottles per day. As Carithers & McClain (2010) explained the patient’s medical history is another indicator of the risk for cirrhosis; the progression to cirrhosis is adaptable and may take time over weeks or many years. Cirrhosis is a liver disease characterized by permanent scarring of the liver that interferes with its normal functions including alcoholism. Most people who drink large amounts of alcohol cause harm to the liver in some way (Heidelbaugh & Bruderly, 2006). The cause of cirrhosis is not yet known, but the connection between cirrhosis and excessive alcohol ingestion is established (Jenkins & Johnson, 2010). Common causes of cirrhosis include: alcohol abuse, hepatitis B infection, hepatitis C infection and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (Schuppan & Afdhal, 2008).
The liver plays central role in each of these phases of clotting process, as it synthesizes the majority of coagulation factors and proteins involved in fibrinolysis as well as thrombopoietin., which is responsible for platelet production from megakaryocytes. In cirrhosis, liver is badly get damaged. So the production of coagulation factors and proteins is impaired. Many pathological processes associated with cirrhosis, such as portal hypertension and endothelial dysfunction as well as co-morbid conditions, may also alter the coagulation process. Consequently, patients with liver disease as in cirrhosis, have a disturbed balance of procoagulant and anti- coagulant factors which deviates from the normal coagulation cascade.
Characterized by progressive tissue injury and scarring, cirrhosis is among the leading causes of chronic liver failure in the United States. Recent research conducted by the National Institutes of Health indicated that the prevalence of cirrhosis, especially in clients diagnosed with Hepatitis C, has increased steadily throughout the past decade and will likely continue to increase in the future (Kanwal et al., 2011). Caused by recurrent tissue damage and inflammation, cirrhosis occurs as healthy hepatocytes (liver cells) are replaced by fibrotic and non-functional scar tissue through natural healing processes. Although liver tissue is normally very resilient, sustained injury eventually outpaces restorative capacity and a majority of functional tissue is replaced with collagenous tissue and liver failure occurs. In the United States, cirrhosis is most commonly caused by Hepatitis C, alcoholism, fatty liver disease, and biliary obstruction (Kanwal et al., 2011). Due to the increase in prevalence and the seriousness of the condition, cirrhosis represents a significant healthcare issue. The treatment and care of clients diagnosed with cirrhosis is complex. The following information addresses several of the major aspects of nursing care associated with the treatment of clients diagnosed with cirrhosis. Additionally, current studies regarding the treatment of cirrhosis will be evaluated in an effort to assess their readiness to be incorporated into current evidenced-based nursing practice.
The Hepatitis B virus is a disease that affects the liver and results in swelling and loss of normal function in the liver. It is estimated that 350 million people are infected with Hepatitis B worldwide, with 50 million new cases diagnosed every year.(1) In the Unit...
Hepatitis B is a DNA viral infection that causes damage and inflammation to the liver. It was first discovered in 1965 by Dr. Baruch Blumberg. The HBV virus is very contagious and is even thought to be the most serious form of viral hepatitis and the most common viral infection on Earth. “HBV is 100 times more infectious than HIV.” (Green, 2002, pg. 7) The virus can survive for about one week outside the body on a dry surface. According to Green (2002, pg. 7), “One in twenty Americans has been infected with the virus at some point in their lives.” Between the ages of 15-39 is when 75% of new HBV infections occur, according to Green (2002, pg.8).
Liver disease resulting from alcohol affects more than two million Americans and is one of the primary causes of illness and death. The liver frees the body of harmful substances, such as alcohol. While the liver breaks down alcohol, it produces toxins that can be even more dangerous than the alcohol consumed (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). “These by-products damage liver cells, promote inflammation, and weaken the body’s natural defenses. Eventually, these problems can disrupt the body’s metabolism and impair the function of other organs” (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 13). A condition called steatosis is the result of fat build up in the liver and is the earliest stage of alcoholic liver disease. This condition causes the liver difficulty breaking down alcohol, potentially resulting in alcoholic hepatitis. Fibrosis of the liver, which is also related to heavy drinking, causes scar tissue to build up in the liver. The alcohol alters chemicals that the liver needs to break down this scar tissue, causing liver dysfunctions. If one does not refrain from drinking during the condition of fibrosis, the scar tissue can build up and create another condition, called cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is deterioration of the liver resulting from heavy scarring, causing the liver to not be able to function properly. If cirrhosis becomes severe, a liver transplant may be the only solution (“Beyond Hangovers: Understanding Alcohol's Impact Your Health” 14). It is difficult to calculate when a person would develop cirrhosis, because an alcoholic could never develop the disease, but someone who social drinks could. It is also unknown why cirrhosis is more prevalent in women (...
An estimated 242,251 Canadians, and 150 million people worldwide are chronically infected with the hepatitis C virus, and more than 350 000 people die every year from hepatitis C-related liver diseases.1 Hepatitis C can lead to other serious diseases, such as liver failure, death, etc. But without any vaccines available to prevent the contraction of the disease, it may be hard to avoid. Due to disease generally being asymptomatic many people are unaware that they have it, further spreading the disease because of a lack of prevention mechanisms. Hepatitis C when developed chronically can cause serious affects on the liver, which may even lead to death. With hepatitis C being such a serious disease, it is important that more people be tested for it so they can start treatment in the early stages of the disease, as well as be aware and informed, before it becomes a chronic infection leading to serious complications.
Liver cancer is a common form of cancer that affects approximately 30,650 new individuals each year (1). The most common form of liver cancer is hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is more predominate in men over women. Along with gender, age also is a large role in the probability of getting HCC. Generally, most of the individuals that are diagnosed with liver cancer are 45 and older, with an average age of 63 (1). Another nonmodifiable factors that can lead to HCC is ethnicity. The risk of having liver cancer greatly increases if you are from the Pacific Islands or are an Asian American (2). Some common behavioral risk factors that can increase an individual’s change of getting HCC are alcohol consumption, type 2 diabetes, chronic viral hepatitis, and obesity (1). While all of these factors can lead to liver cancer, obesity has become more popular recently with an increase in the amount of overweight individuals. In the last decade alone, over one billion people worldwide are estimated to be overweight (5). In the research articles used, BMI was the common tool to determine if an individual was overweight or obese.
Hepatitis A is a virus or an infection that causes liver disease and inflammation of the liver. According to Centers for Disease and Prevention, hep A is a self- limited disease that does not cause a chronic infection and it is rarely fatal. The virus is an infectious disease of the liver which cannot be transmitted by sneezing and coughing. It is usually transmitted from person to person through the feces or the mouth, from consuming contaminated food or water. Many people do not experience any symptoms of hepatitis A, but if someone was to get it, then the symptoms could last from 2 weeks to 6 weeks. The blood is tested to determine how the liver is functioning. The blood is usually taken from the vein in the arm and is taken to the lab
Chronic kidney disease is a significant health problem for all Australians, however it is ten times more common among indigenous people. (Kidney Health Australia, 2014)
The primary cause of hepatic cirrhosis in the United States is long-term alcoholism. Men respond differently than women to alcohol. With women one or two drinks a day can cause them liver damage. Men can consume two to five drinks a day and be ok. One drink a day can create liver scarring. So like everything else in life it varies, it might affect everyone differently. The individual who drinks alcohol on a daily basis, or more often then others have a higher risk of developing cirrhosis. Hepatic cirrhosis has also been linked to serious liver infections such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C. Patients who are HIV positive have died from developing cirrhosis through the hepatitis virus. Other causes of cirrhosis come from reactions to prescribed medications, injuries to the liver, exposure to toxic substances, and episodes of heart failure with liver congestion. Obt...
A few months ago I visited the dermatologist after eight months of suffering with what seemed like acne on my face, neck, and back, as well as psoriasis on the back of my scalp. I’m a strong believer in the connection between mind and body so I knew that the onset of this was related to what was going on in my life though I still couldn’t seem to get rid of it. On the day of my appointment, I was watching YouTube as I was getting ready and one of Teal Swan’s videos began to play through autoplay; How to Cure Acne. She began talking about the most effective way to physically clear acne with Andreas Moritz liver and gallbladder flush. I gave it some thought, but continued on to my appointment. Sitting in the chair my dermatologist told me that I had rosacea. She recommended that I stop using my current facial wash (before the age of 21 I never used facial cleaners, only water; as it turns out this is all my skin needs)
Zein, N. N., & Edwards, K. (2009). The Cleveland Clinic guide to liver disorders. New York: Kaplan Pub.
Liver cancer is abnormal cell growth on or within the liver. Liver cancer is either starts in the liver (called primary liver cancer) or it spreads to the liver (called metastatic liver cancer). Metastatic liver cancer is more common in United States and Western Europe, while primary liver cancer is common in third world nations. Liver cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in the world. In the United States, it affects twice as many men as women; the average diagnosis age for liver cancer is 67.