Health and Fitness

  Hepatorenal Syndrome OVERVIEW Hepatorenal syndrome (HRS) is a form of impaired kidney function that occurs in individuals with advanced liver disease. Individuals with hepatorenal syndrome do not have any identifiable cause of kidney dysfunction and the kidneys themselves are not structural damaged. Therefore, hepatorenal syndrome may be referred as a “functional” form of kidney impairment. In fact, if the kidney of an individual with hepatorenal syndrome were to be transplanted into an otherwise healthy individual, it would function normally. Hepatorenal syndrome is classified into to two distinct types. Type I is a rapidly progressive condition that leads to renal failure; type II does not have a rapid course and progresses slowly over weeks to months. Although the hepatorenal syndrome occurs in individuals with liver disease, the exact cause of the condition is unknown. Researchers have noted that blood circulation is abnormal in individuals with hepatorenal syndrome. The arte...

  Hepatopulmonary Syndrome Overview Hepatopulmonary (hep-uh-toe-POOL-moe-nar-e) syndrome is caused by blood vessels in the lungs expanding, also called dilating, and increasing in number. This condition affects the lungs of people who have advanced liver disease. These changes in the lungs make it hard for red blood cells to take in oxygen. Then the lungs can't send enough oxygen to the body. This leads to low oxygen levels in the blood, also called hypoxemia. How liver disease is linked to the lung condition isn't yet known. A liver transplant is the only cure for hepatopulmonary syndrome. Symptoms Often, there are no symptoms of hepatopulmonary syndrome. If there are symptoms, they can include: Shortness of breath that's worse when sitting or standing and gets better when lying down. Clubbing of the fingers, in which the fingertips spread out and become rounder than usual. Broken blood vessels under the skin, called spider angioma. Bluish tinge of the lips and skin in whi...

  Hepatoerythropoietic Porphyria OVERVIEW Hepatoerythropoietic porphyria (HEP) is an extremely rare genetic disorder characterized by deficiency of the enzyme, uroporphyrinogen decarboxylase. This deficiency is caused by mutations of both copies of a person’s UROD gene, which means that the disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. Most affected individuals have a profound deficiency of this enzyme and onset of the disorder is usually during infancy or early childhood. However, some individuals may have a mild form that can go undiagnosed until adulthood. The childhood form of HEP is often associated with painful, blistering skin lesions that develop on sun-exposed skin (photosensitivity). Affected areas of skin can scar and become discolored. There may be risk of bacterial infection. Abnormal, excessive hair (hypertrichosis) on affected skin is also common. Mild anemia and abnormal enlargement of the liver and/or spleen (hepatosplenomegaly) have also been reported. Mi...

  Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy  Overview Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a condition that weakens skeletal and heart muscle that quickly gets worse with time. It’s the most common form of muscular dystrophy. Most cases of DMD are inherited as an X-linked recessive trait (passed on through the mother, who is a carrier), but approximately 30% of cases are due to new genetic changes (mutations) that happen randomly and aren’t inherited. Symptoms Symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) most often appear between the ages of 2 and 4 years, though they can begin as early as infancy or be noticed later in childhood. DMD causes muscle weakness that worsens over time, so common symptoms include: Progressive muscle weakness and atrophy (loss of muscle bulk) that begins in your child’s legs and pelvis. It occurs less severely in their arms, neck and other areas of their body. Calf muscle hypertrophy (increase in muscle size). Difficulty climbing up stairs. Difficulty walking tha...

Hepatocellular carcinoma Overview Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common form of liver cancer. It’s an aggressive (fast-growing) cancer most common in people with advanced liver disease, like cirrhosis of the liver. Increasingly, people diagnosed with HCC have a liver condition that sometimes leads to cirrhosis called metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In the beginning, hepatocellular carcinoma grows slowly. Surgery to remove the tumor or a liver transplant can treat HCC in its early stages. But most people don’t learn they have it until it’s advanced and spreading more quickly. Eventually, it can lead to liver failure. At this point, HCC is challenging for providers to treat. Given how serious it is, you should receive regular checks for signs of HCC if you have cirrhosis or MASLD. Symptoms Most people don't have signs and symptoms in the early stages of primary liver cancer. When signs and symptoms do appear, they may include: Losing weight wit...

  Hepatitis D Overview Hepatitis D is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). HDV is known as a “satellite virus,” because it can only infect people who are also infected by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). HDV infection can be acute or lead to chronic, long-term illness. The infection can be acquired either simultaneously with HBV as a coinfection or as a superinfection in people who are already chronically infected with HBV. Hepatitis D, also known as “delta hepatitis,” is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis D virus (HDV). Hepatitis D only occurs in people who are also infected with the hepatitis B virus. Hepatitis D is spread when blood or other body fluids from a person infected with the virus enters the body of someone who is not infected. Hepatitis D can be an acute, short-term infection or become a long-term, chronic infection. Hepatitis D can cause severe symptoms and serious illness that can lead to life-long liver damage and even death. People can become ...

Hepatic Encephalopathy Overview Hepatic encephalopathy is brain dysfunction caused by liver dysfunction. “Encephalopathy” is brain dysfunction, and “hepatic” means liver-related. Encephalopathy affects your central nervous system and how you think, feel and act. Symptoms can range from confusion and disorientation to erratic behavior and personality changes. It can get better with treatment, but it can be life-threatening without. Hepatic encephalopathy is caused by neurotoxins in your blood — substances that are toxic to your brain and nervous system. Normally, your liver filters these toxins from your blood. But if your liver isn’t performing this function as usual, the neurotoxins continue to circulate. Eventually, they enter and affect your brain. This usually happens in advanced liver disease, when liver functions begin to fail. Symptoms Hepatic encephalopathy can show up in a wide variety of ways. Not everyone will have every symptom. It can affect your: Mood and personality. Beh...