Page 218 - Physiology and Pathophysiology MNU 2024-2025 نظرى

Clinical pharmacy 2024/2025 Level 2 Pharm D Physiology and Pathophysiology (MD303)
2- Alcoholic hepatitis:

• Inflammation, degeneration, and necrosis of
hepatocytes with continued alcohol intake.
• Symptoms can range from mild to severe and can
include anorexia and weight loss.
• Structural changes in alcoholic hepatitis are

reversible to a large extent if alcohol
consumption ceases

3- Alcoholic cirrhosis:
• Diffuse scarring and fibrosis of the liver that occurs after many years of alcohol abuse.
• Because the liver plays such an important role in many normal physiologic processes, alcoholic
cirrhosis is a multisystem disease.

❖ Manifestations of alcoholic cirrhosis:
1- Portal hypertension:
▪ Elevated portal blood pressure caused by increased
resistance to blood flow through the liver as a result

of scar tissue.
▪ The increased portal pressure causes the backing up
of blood into the spleen (splenomegaly) as well as
collateral blood vessels of the abdomen and
esophagus causing varices.
▪ Symptoms include bleeding of varices, ascites, and
splenomegaly with possible destruction of platelets
and other blood cells.

2- Ascites: Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity;
results from portal hypertension and decreased plasma

protein production by the liver; presents with massive
distention of the abdomen.

3- Hepatosplenomegaly
4- Esophagal varices: Distention of abdominal and
esophageal veins (esophageal varices) due to increased
portal and venous pressures
5- Jaundice

6-Hepatic encephalopathy: Neurologic dysfunction that may be caused in part by the accumulation of
ammonia and other toxins in the circulation
7- Reduced metabolism of circulating sex hormones can result in menstrual irregularities, abnormal sexual
function
8- Liver failure

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