In the broader field of medicine, one disease is often hidden in the shadow of serious liver diseases, such as cirrhosis, which is liver cerebral disease. As the cirrhosis of the liver develops to a certain extent, especially as it enters the stage of failure or the end of the term, it acts as a hidden killer, quietly attacking the patient ‘ s nervous system and causing brain damage. Today, as a senior medical practitioner, I will give you an in-depth knowledge of liver and cerebral disease and lift its mysterious veil.
I. What is a liver cerebral disease?
Hepatic cerebral disease, which may sound strange, is a common complication, especially among cirrhosis patients. In short, hepatic cerebropathy is a syndrome of central nervous system disorders due to severe liver functional impairment, which results in the effective metabolism of harmful substances such as internal ammonia. It’s like a “brainstorm” caused by liver problems, and it changes people’s behavior, emotions, sleep and even words.
II. Mechanisms for the development of liver cerebral disease
The mechanism for the development of liver cerebral disease is complex, but we can understand it in several ways:
1. Aminotoxicity: The liver is the main metabolic organ for the internal ammonia. When liver function is impaired, ammonia cannot be effectively converted, resulting in increased blood ammonia concentrations. The ammonia enters the brain through the blood cycle and is toxic to nerve cells and causes brain dysfunction.
Inflammatory response injuries: The interaction of high blood ammonia with inflammatory media can contribute to the development of hepatitis encephalitis. Inflammation can damage the blood-brain barrier and make ammonia toxic substances and inflammatory media more accessible to brain tissues, further exacerbating brain damage.
3. Amino acid imbalance and false neurotransmitters: When the liver function is reduced, the aromatic amino acid degradation in the organism is reduced, resulting in increased levels of phenylamino acid and glycerine in blood. These amino acids can produce false neurotransmitters, disrupt the transmission of normal neurotransmitters and affect brain neurofunctional functions.
4. manganese ion poisoning: Under normal conditions, manganese ion is excreted with gravy. However, when liver function is impaired, manganese ion may enter the brain through blood circulation, causing neurological irritation and damage.
III. Incentives for liver cerebral disease
Hepatic cerebral disease is not unrecovered, and it is often triggered by a variety of triggers. These include:
1. Infection: Persons with liver problems who are not properly cared for are vulnerable to bacteria or viruses, leading to hepatocellular degenerative behaviour and necrosis, further affecting the function of the liver and giving rise to liver cerebral disease.
2. Inappropriate diet: Over-ingestion of high-protein food leads to hepatocytic cerebral disease by producing large amounts of ammonia in the body and increasing the concentration of haemocal ammonia.
3. Indigent haemorrhage: In case of serious cirrhosis in the liver, it may cause an indigestion haemorrhage, leading to a reduction in the body ‘ s erythrocyte, a lack of oxygen, and an increase in blood ammonia concentrations, which promotes the occurrence of liver cerebral disease.
4. Hydrolysis disorders: During cases of liver disease, large quantities of abdominal water may occur. Failure to apply urea at this time in a timely and reasonable manner can lead to chronic diarrhoea, vomiting, hydrolysis disorders, acid alkali balance disorders and liver encephalitis.
5. Inadequate use of medicines: Overuse of sleeping pills, sedatives and urinary drugs can lead to an increase in blood ammonia in the body, increase hepatocellular damage and facilitate the occurrence of liver cerebral disease.
IV. Symptoms of clinical manifestations of liver cerebral disease
The symptoms of liver cerebral disease are varied and are increasing as the condition progresses.
Common symptoms include:
• Cognitive impairments: loss of memory, attention, intellectual function, computational and orientation.
Behavior abnormality: emotional instability, irritation, apathy or depression, with the potential for local defecation, clothing, etc.
• Consciousness disorders: sleep addiction, slumbering and even coma, lack of response to sound, light irritation, strong irritation such as pain, or painful expression.
• Neurological symptoms: Pumping-form tremors, increased muscle tension, reflecting hyperactivity, etc.
V. Basic principles for the treatment of liver cerebral disease
The key to the treatment of liver cerebral diseases is active treatment of primary diseases, i.e. serious liver diseases such as cirrhosis, while measures are taken to reduce the generation and absorption of hazardous substances such as ammonia and to promote the excretion of harmful substances.
Specific treatment principles include:
1. Medical treatment: reduction of blood ammonia concentrations with drugs such as lactose and potassium glycerine, use of antibiotics to suppress intestinal ammonia-producing bacteria, use of systolic amino acid resistance to false neurotransmitters, etc.
2. Dietary control: limit protein intake and reduce ammonia production. At the same time, adequate caloric and nutritional support is guaranteed to maintain the hydrolysis balance.
3. Endoscopy treatment: Incentives such as digestive haemorrhage can be stopped through endoscopy.
4. Liver transplants: For severe liver cirrhosis patients, liver transplants are an effective means of treating liver cerebral disease.
Concluding remarks
Hepatic cerebral disease is a serious complication, which causes severe damage to the nervous system of persons with liver diseases such as cirrhosis. We can better prevent and treat this disease by understanding the mechanisms for its onset, the causes, the symptoms of clinical performance and the principles of treatment. For persons with liver diseases, timely access to health care, standard treatment and lifestyle adjustments are key to reducing risks of liver cerebral disease. Let’s work together to protect the liver’s health and to protect ourselves from liver cerebral disease.