Insulin Resistance
Nearly all patients with cirrhosis are insulin resistant. Insulin resistance is
a primary feature in type 2 diabetes and occurs when the body is unable to use
insulin. This hormone is important for delivering blood sugar and amino acids
into cells and helps determine whether these nutrients will be burned for energy
or stored for future use.
Other Complications
One study reported that nearly a quarter of patients with cirrhosis had
gallstones. They may also face a higher than average risk for certain abnormal
heart rhythms. Peptic ulcers, sleep disorders, and respiratory problems are also
more common in people with cirrhosis than in the general population.


HOW IS CIRRHOSIS DIAGNOSED?

A physical examination may reveal the following findings in a patient with
cirrhosis:

The cirrhotic liver is firm and often enlarged. The liver may feel rock-hard.
(In advanced stages of cirrhosis, the liver may become small and shriveled.)
The left side can often be felt by the physician when pressing on the
abdomen.

If the abdomen is swollen, the physician will check for ascites by tapping the
flanks and listening for a dull thud and feeling the abdomen for a shifting wave
of fluid.
Tests Used to Determine Severity and Causes of Hepatitis
Measuring Liver Enzymes (Aminotransferases). Enzymes known as aminotransferases,
including aspartate (AST) and alanine (ALT) are released when the liver is
damaged. Measurements of these enzymes, particularly ALT, are the least
expensive and most noninvasive tests for determining severity of the underlying
liver disease and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Enzyme levels vary,
however, and not always an accurate indicator of disease activity. (For example,
they are not useful in detecting progression to cirrhosis.)

Radioimmunoassays. To identify a particular virus that may be causing hepatitis,
blood tests called radioimmunoassays are performed. Typically, radioimmunoassays
identify particular antibodies, which are molecules in the immune system that
attack specific antigens. (Antigens are any molecules that the body considers
threatening or dangerous and which can be targeted by antibodies.) Some of these
tests can pinpoint hepatitis antigens directly. These tests, however, have
limitations:

There may not be sufficient numbers of antibodies to be detectable by blood
tests for up to weeks or months after hepatitis develops. Blood tests that are
taken too early, then, may miss these signs of infection.
Antibodies also persist after patients recover, so a positive antibody test
can indicate a previous infection but does not necessarily determine if the
infection is active.

The assays for individual hepatitis viruses may differ.

Polymerase Chain Reaction. In some cases of hepatitis C, a polymerase chain
reaction (PCR), may be performed. A PCR is able to make multiple copies of the
genetic material (the RNA) of the virus to the point where it is detectable.
Biopsy
A liver biopsy is the only definite method for diagnosing cirrhosis. It also
helps determine its cause, treatment possibilities, the extent of damage, and
the long-term outlook. For example, hepatitis C patients who show no significant
liver scarring when biopsied appear to have a low risk for cirrhosis.

The biopsy may be performed using various approaches including the following:

Percutaneous Liver Biopsy. This approach uses a needle inserted through the
abdomen to obtain a tissue sample from the liver. Various forms of needles are
used, including those that use suction or those that cut out the tissue. If
cirrhosis is suspected, a cutting needle is the better tool. This approach
should not be used in patients with bleeding problems, and it must be used with
caution in patients with ascites or severe obesity.
Transjugular Liver Biopsy. This approach uses a catheter (a thin tube) that
is inserted in the jugular vein in the neck and threaded through the hepatic
vein (which leads to the liver). A needle is passed through the tube and a
suction device collects liver samples. This procedure is risky but may be used
for patients with severe ascites.
Laparoscopy. This procedure employs small abdominal incision through which
the physician inserts a thin tube that contains small surgical instruments and a
tiny camera to view the surface of the liver. This is generally reserved for
staging cancer or for ascites with unknown causes.

Biopsies can be dangerous, so they cannot be performed on patients who have test
results that indicate clotting problems, on those who have had previous liver
biopsies, or who have ascites [see above].
Tests for Determining Liver Function
Certain blood tests are used to determine liver function. They include the
following:

Serum albumin concentration. Serum albumin measures protein in the blood (low
levels indicate poor liver function).
Prothrombin time (PT). The PT test measures in seconds the time it takes for
blood clots to form (the longer it takes the greater the risk for bleeding).
Bilirubin. One of the most important factors indicative of liver damage is
bilirubin, a red-yellow pigment that is normally metabolized in the liver and
then excreted in the urine. In patients with hepatitis, the liver cannot process
bilirubin, and blood levels of this substance rise, sometimes causing jaundice.

The results of these tests along with the presence of specific complications
(ascites and encephalopathy) are used for calculating the Child-Pugh
Classification. This is a staging system (A to C) that helps physicians
determine the severity of cirrhosis.
Specific Blood Tests for Primary Biliary Cirrhosis.
Very high levels of serum alkaline phosphatase, an enzyme produced in the liver,
and high levels of immune factors called mitochondrial antibodies are usually
present in blood tests of patients with primary biliary blood cirrhosis.
Bilirubin measurements appear to be important factors in determining its
severity.
Imaging Tests
A number of imaging tests can be used to diagnose cirrhosis and its
complications.

Imaging Techniques. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computed tomography (CT),
and ultrasound are all imaging techniques that are useful in detecting and
defining the extent of cirrhosis. Such tests can reveal ascites, enlarged
spleen, irregular liver surface, reversed portal vein blood flow, and liver
cancer. Sometimes they can even detect abnormally large blood vessels in the
liver. In some cases, images from ultrasound and CT can be misinterpreted as
cancer. MRI is most useful for ruling out or confirming cancer.

Liver Scans. Sometimes liver scans are performed using a small radioactive
tracer and a special camera that records information provided by the tracer as
it passes through the liver:

Arteriography uses dye injected into the hepatic arteries that show up on
x-ray.
Splenoportography uses dye injected into the spleen, which allows the
physician to measure portal vein pressure; this procedure is risky.
Hepatic Vein Wedge Pressure
Hepatic vein wedge pressure involves insertion of a catheter into the hepatic
veins. The blood pressure in the veins of the liver is then measured. The result
is an indicator of portal vein pressure. If pressure is high, cirrhosis is
likely. A low measurement is a favorable sign.
Other Tests Used to Detect Complications of Cirrhosis
Endoscopy. Some experts recommend endoscopy for patients newly diagnosed with
mild to moderate cirrhosis in order to screen for esophageal varices. (These are
abnormal blood vessels in the esophagus that increase the risk for bleeding).
This test involve inserting a fiber optic tube down the throat. The tube
contains tiny cameras to view the inside of the esophagus, where varices are
most likely to develop. Endoscopy is the only procedure for detecting varices,
but it is not clear if screening for varices in patients without severe
cirrhosis is any more beneficial than simply putting them immediately on
preventive drugs -- whether or not varices have been identified.

Paracentesis. If ascites is present, paracentesis is performed to determine its
cause. This procedure involves using a thin needle to withdraw fluid from the
abdomen. The fluid is tested for different factors to determine the cause of
ascites:

Bacteria cultures and white blood cell counts. (These are used to determine
the presence of infection.)
Protein levels. Low levels of protein in the fluid plus a low white blood
cell count suggest that cirrhosis is the cause of the ascites.

The appearance of the fluid is helpful in determining problems:

A cloudy fluid plus a high white blood cell count means an infection is
present.
Bloody fluid suggests the presence of a tumor.

Screening for Liver Cancer. Patients with cirrhosis are usually screened for
liver cancer using ultrasound and tests for a substance called alpha-fetoproetin
(AFP). It is not known whether such screening has much impact on survival,
because it is not very sensitive and has a high rate of false positives
(suggesting the presence of cancer when it is not actually present). Screening
is not necessary in patients without cirrhosis.




Sandra Tara Balduf (Ane)

Frontline Hepatitis Awareness

Support for patients and educational materials

http://frontline-hepatitis-awareness.com

1-866-Hep-GoGo 866-437-4646




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