Hepatosis of the liver is a disease that is manifested by dystrophy of the tissue (parenchyma) of the liver, without a vivid cellular reaction. By its origin and course, the disease is acute and chronic. Hepatosis of the liver, which has a chronic course, can be cholestatic and fatty.
The acute form of hepatosis develops when exposed to toxic substances and poisoning of various origins. This can be poisoning with alcohol substitutes, heavy metals, phosphorus, medications, poisonous plants, mushrooms, etc. This form of the disease is also called yellow liver atrophy. In rare cases, acute hepatosis of the liver develops due to existing hepatitis or sepsis of an infectious etiology.
The very name of the disease suggests that it has an acute onset. At first, there are symptoms of dyspepsia (nausea, vomiting) and signs of intoxication. The patient feels “broken”, body aches, muscle pains, complains of fever. A little later jaundice appears. The liver is slightly increased in size, then its size is reduced and it is not palpable. The content of liver enzymes (ALT, AST), blood glucose increases. With a histological examination of organ tissue, fatty degeneration is noted. The severe course of the disease can be combined with liver failure with a transition to a coma, blood clotting disorder and increased bleeding.
Patients with acute hepatosis are subject to mandatory hospitalization. The success of further treatment depends largely on how quickly treatment is started and the flow of toxins into the liver is stopped. To do this, wash the stomach and intestines. When bleeding transfused freshly frozen plasma, albumin, and, if necessary, red blood cells. Infusion therapy is carried out with a solution of glucose, saline solutions with the addition of potassium preparations, vitamins of group B, folic acid. In severe cases, plasmapheresis and hemodialysis may be required.
Chronic fatty liver hepatosis is manifested by fatty degeneration of liver cells. This form of the disease has a long course and alternates with periods of exacerbation and relative calm of the disease. The cause of fatty degeneration is mainly chronic alcoholism. In rare cases, it occurs against the background of prolonged exposure to hepatotoxic substances in the workplace. Concomitant serious illnesses, such as diabetes or metabolic disorders, can also cause hepatosis. Symptoms of the disease are manifested by constant weakness, aching pain in the liver. The organ may be slightly increased in size, with pain on palpation. The spleen does not increase. Jaundice, as a rule, does not happen or there is a slight icteric sclera and skin integument. In the blood, liver enzymes and cholesterol are moderately elevated .
With the cessation of toxic effects on the body, refusal of alcohol, a complete recovery is possible. Proteins should predominate in the patient's diet. Limit the intake of fats in the body. Hepatoprotectors and multivitamins are prescribed.
The next type of chronic form of the disease is cholestatic hepatosis of the liver. Symptoms of it are expressed by the delay of hepatic bile and the accumulation of pigment in the liver cells. In this case, hepatocytes undergo protein dystrophy. This disease develops as a result of the toxic effects of chemicals and medicines. In this case, metabolic disturbances in the liver occur, formation and normal outflow of bile are disturbed.
The disease is manifested by severe jaundice, lightening feces and darkening of urine. The liver is usually always enlarged in size. The blood contains high levels of bilirubin, enzymes, phosphatase and cholesterol. The treatment for this form of hepatosis is approximately the same as for the fat form, except that corticosteroids are used in therapy.
Prevention of all forms of hepatosis is proper nutrition, rejection of the systematic use of alcohol, occupational health, especially in hazardous work, and, of course, a systematic medical examination at risk.