Is there a Relationship Between Liver Cirrhosis and Renal Failure?

Liver cirrhosis and renal failure are two diseases which can often occur in conjunction with one another. Renal failure may occur as a complication of liver cirrhosis, resulting in what is known as hepatorenal syndrome. Liver cirrhosis is a condition where the liver has slowly deteriorated and malfunctioned due to injury. Healthy liver tissues are replaced by scar tissues, leading to the impaired ability of the liver to remove toxins from the blood, produce proteins for blood clotting, and process hormones, nutrients and drugs.

Causes of Liver Cirrhosis and Renal Failure

Liver cirrhosis is caused by various factors such as viral infections, excessive intake of alcohol and chronic heart failure. Also, metabolic problems like Wilson’s disease, or the excessive amount of copper in the body, and hemochromatosis, or the excessive amount of iron in the body, can result to the said condition. Biliary conditions like primary biliary cirrhosis can also result in liver cirrhosis. Certain medications such as herbal supplements may also cause damage to the liver and eventually lead to cirrhosis.

Renal failure is defined as the gradual loss of the functions of the kidneys due to several factors. Some of the more common causes of the disease aside from cirrhosis are kidney disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Factors that can also put people at risk for renal failure are high cholesterol, lupus and sickle cell anemia. Symptoms of renal failure include pain in the lower back, blood in urine, and decrease amount of urine output.

Liver Cirrhosis Symptoms

People suffering from cirrhosis usually experience no symptoms during the early stages of the condition. But as soon as the disease progresses, the person may experience symptoms like fatigue, weakness, nausea, lack of appetite, weight loss and itching. Many patients also manifest with abdominal pain and ascites, which is the collection of fluid in the abdomen. The person may also notice the presence of spider-like blood vessels on the skin.

Hepatorenal Syndrome

Hepatorenal syndrome is the condition wherein the kidneys are damaged as a result of liver cirrhosis. In the early stages of liver cirrhosis, its effect in the blood circulation is often not apparent. But as the cirrhosis progresses, portal hypertension also develops, as well as decrease in cardiac output. These in turn can lead to several processes inside the body such as vasodilation of the blood vessels in the intestines, and the retention of sodium and water by the kidneys. If not given intervention, the condition often worsens, thus leading to ascites and renal failure. Hepatorenal syndrome symptoms include yellowing of the eyes and skin, abdominal distention, infrequent urination, and presence of dark urine.

Treatment and Prevention

Management of hepatorenal syndrome starts with treatment to improve the kidney functions. Most patients are immediately required to go on dialysis. Surgery is often contraindicated except for a liver transplant procedure.

Preventing liver cirrhosis from developing is often essential in order to avoid the occurrence of hepatorenal syndrome. This can be done by limiting intake of alcohol, and undergoing regular medical check-ups for early diagnosis and treatment of the any medical condition.

References

The New England Journal of Medicine: Renal Failure in Cirrhosis

emedicinehealth: Liver Cirrhosis