Pathophysiology of Bleeding Esophageal Varices - Paper Example

Introduction

The Liver is among the largest organ in the body. Liver cirrhosis is a slowly developing disease where healthy tissue is replaced with scar tissue. Here the scar lining tissue prevents the blood flow through the liver and reduces the liver's ability to process nutrients, hormones, drugs and natural toxins. It also alters the production of proteins including other substances produced by the liver. Eventually, this condition keeps the liver from working properly. Liver cirrhosis is a major health problem in the public and one that is preventable and highly underestimated.

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Mortality rate changes for cirrhosis in different countries reflect differences in the factors such as alcohol consumption. Liver cirrhosis adjusted disability life years with about an equal proportion attributes to alcohol consumption. One of the global studies taken to study liver cirrhosis mortality performed in 187 countries between 1980 and 2010, unlikely, no data was found from Central Sub-Saharan Africa, and the most information was present in Eastern and Western Sub-Saharan Africa. Thus to conclude, no information in 31% of countries was found. This information sums up that the global burden of liver cirrhosis was underestimated. All critical liver diseases, described by their capacity, eventually by their capacity to translate into liver cirrhosis.

The liver has been commonly associated with excessive consumption of alcohol. Excessive alcohol in the liver tissues makes the liver tissue to scar, translating to the liver not working as it did before. It thus prevents the liver from producing enough proteins or filtration of toxins out of the blood as it does. Studies have revealed that women are more vulnerable to liver cirrhosis as they have fewer enzymes in their stomachs to break down alcohol particles. This means that more alcohol is likely to reach the liver and make the scar in tissues.

Liver cirrhosis has been associated with genetic factors, For instance, some people born with a deficiency in enzymes that help in the elimination of alcohol particles in their body system. This would mean that if they consume alcohol heavily, they are at high risk of getting liver cirrhosis. Another genetic incidence is with people with Obesity, people having meals with a high-fat diet, and having Hepatitis C are also at the high risk of being contracted with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Liver cirrhosis has been known to cause a number of complications that have been referred to as decompensated cirrhosis. The various complications include; ascites which is a buildup of fluids in the stomach, encephalopathy which also means mental confusion, also liver cirrhosis leads to internal bleeding popularly known as bleeding varices, and jaundice which is a condition where the skin and the eyes tend to have a yellow tint. One of the major lifestyle factors that doctors emphasize in the process of treatment is for one to stop drinking. Such people with the disease often depend on alcohol that if they quit they would experience severe health complications. Doctors have always recommended a special treatment facility where they can begin their journey to sobering up.

Liver cirrhosis is the immediate pathological result of various liver disease, and fibrous its precursor. The many cells involve such as cytokines, and others are majorly involved in the initiation and the process of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The pivotal event in fibrosis is the activation of hepatic stellate cells. The major factors that lead to hepatic dysfunction in liver cirrhosis include defenestration and capillarization of liver sinusoidal endothelial cells. Through activation of Kupffer cells leads to the destroyer of hepatocytes and the stimulation of the activation of HSCc. Pathogenic of cirrhosis is mainly contributed by the repeated cycles of apoptosis and regeneration of hepatocytes.

At the molecular level, the involvement of many cytokines leads to the mediation of signalling pathways that lead to the regulation and activation of HSCc and fibrogenesis. Recently studies have shown that miRNAs as a post-transactional regulator model have been found to play a role in fibrous and cirrhosis. Critical cellular, robust animal models of liver fibrous and cirrhosis and also molecular factors involved in the formation of liver fibrous and cirrhosis will lead to the development of more accurate therapeutic approaches for liver cirrhosis conditions.

The signs and symptoms that are important in considering the presence of liver cirrhosis include; blood capillaries becoming visible on the skin on the upper abdomen, an itchy skin, one loss body weight, pain or tenderness in the area where the liver is located, weakness, among others such as loss appetite and red or blotchy palms can be a clear indication that one is suffering from liver cirrhosis. Severe conditions such as accelerated heartbeat, bleeding gums, fluid buildup on ankles, feet, and legs, and hair loss can trigger the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis.

The main complications that are a result of liver cirrhosis are liver failure, which is brought by because of ascites, spontaneous bacterial bacteria peritonitis and variceal bleeding. Special treatment and care should be given to liver cirrhosis patients as failure to that would translate to severe health conditions such as general weight, liver failure, and even death. Liver patients should be given first priority in their care.

Conclusion

Liver cirrhosis has become one of the diseases that lead to many deaths over the decades. Its cause is excessive consumption of alcohol, doctors have advocated for people to drink responsibly not to fall under this epidemic kind of diseases.

References

Friedman, L. S., & Keeffe, E. B. (2012). Handbook of liver disease. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders.

In Friedman, L. S., & In Martin, P. (2018). Handbook of liver disease.