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- Title
CACHEXIA AS A RESULT OF ALCOHOLISM AND ITS SEVERE IMPACT ON HEPATIC AND PANCREATIC FUNCTION.
- Authors
Crişan, Ioana Maria; Crețu, Alex; Szasz, Zsuzsanna Agnes
- Abstract
Background: Pancreatic insufficiency occurs when the pancreas fails to produce enough enzymes necessary for digestion, leading to malabsorption and nutritional deficiencies. Chronic hepatopathy encompasses a range of liver disorders that disrupt its function, potentially causing systemic and neurological complications. Objective: The purpose of this study is to highlight the complex pathological impacts of chronic smoking and alcohol consumption, stressing the importance of detecting signs of pancreatic insufficiency and chronic hepatopathy. Material and methods: We detail the case of a 70-year-old female patient with multiple comorbidities and hospitalizations. Through medical history, clinical examination, and paraclinical and laboratory tests, we traced the development of her diagnoses and their complications related to her lifestyle choices, specifically smoking and alcohol consumption. Results: The patient's medical history revealed consistent alcohol consumption and smoking. She underwent a partial pancreatectomy with duodenectomy in 2012 after acute pancreatitis, which led to multiple pancreatic cysts and resulted in exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Additional records from June 2022 indicated chronic cholestatic hepatopathy, previous cholecystectomy, and hemorrhoidal disease with rectal bleeding. Between late 2022 and early 2024, she showed neurological decline with cortical atrophy observed on CT scans. Diagnoses included dementia and early-stage Alzheimer's disease, without excluding the influence of portal encephalopathy on her neuropsychiatric condition. By 2024, symptoms of hepatic disease had progressed to cirrhosis-related hepatic insufficiency, portal hypertension, and encephalopathy due to systemic hyperammonemia. Severe hepatic dysfunction and exocrine pancreatic insufficiency contributed to peripheral edema, ascites, pleurisy due to hypoalbuminemia, various deficiencies, cachexia, and coagulation disorders. Distinguishing Alzheimer's disease signs from hepatic encephalopathy symptoms and titrating medication posed significant challenges. Conclusions: Chronic alcohol consumption has led to severe hepatic and pancreatic dysfunction, both causing multiple deficiencies and specific clinical signs. This case underscores the critical need for comprehensive management of alcohol-related diseases.
- Subjects
ROMANIA; LIVER physiology; PANCREATIC physiology; COMPLICATIONS of alcoholism; SMOKING; ALCOHOLIC liver diseases; CONFERENCES &; conventions; EXOCRINE pancreatic insufficiency; CHRONIC diseases; CACHEXIA; SYMPTOMS
- Publication
Acta Marisiensis. Seria Medica, 2024, Vol 70, p41
- ISSN
2668-7755
- Publication type
Article