Disorders of Hepatobiliary and Exocrine Pancreas Function –ROBERT CASE STUDY
Alcohol is one of the legal drinks, and many people enjoy drinking it. In the beginning,
everybody thinks alcohol is good for fun or relaxation of the mind. Over time it becomes a habit
leading to addiction. At this stage, it becomes difficult to deal with or quit drinking. In this case,
Robert has been dealing with alcoholism for over 30 years despite his old age. Despite the
drinking habit, he also has anemic and cirrhosis, including low appetite. Also, he has been
experiencing regular abdominal pain but refuses to seek medical help. Consistent excessive
drinking is risky as it causes alcohol-related steatohepatitis, which affects individual health
status. Also, this excessive drinking habit makes the liver fatty triggering different health
complications. In the early liver disease stage, minimal symptoms are evident, making one feel
okay, but all is not well. As it progresses, it results in irreversible cirrhosis requiring medical care
and treatment to control the symptoms. This paper presents a review of Robert's case, an
individual dealing with an alcoholic habit for over 30 years.
Question one
The liver is a site for coagulation factors synthesis, including their inhibitors. Also, it is a
central agent in the body's hemostasis function, making it an important organ in the body. Due
to such roles, individuals with liver disease encounter difficulty in blood clotting and suffer from
anemia. The present disease impairs the function of the liver affecting the production of blood
clotting factors. The production of fibrinogen decreases, affecting the process of blood clotting.
The decreased production of clotting factors and fibrinogen creates difficulty during blood
, ALCOHOL LIVER DISEASE 2
clotting as the factors responsible are insufficient (Baja, 2019). The factors form blood-borne
materials called fibrin which help avoid excessive blood loss in the body. Also, the blood
clotting time is increased by a situation like malabsorption of vitamin K, which causes
insufficiency. Again the disruption in fat metabolism can cause hemolysis by affecting the
phospholipid cell membrane found in red blood cells.
Such impact continues to make the liver dysfunctional, decreasing blood elements in the
body, triggering leukopenia and anemia. When the liver fails to function properly, several
changes are evident in hemostasis. The triggering factors for change include reduction of plasma
level of factors like anticoagulant synthesized by the liver. Some of the changes include fat and
clotting factor production, such as factors 7, 9, and 10, vital for blood clotting. Also, portocaval
change is evident due to anemia, one of the liver diseases. Excessive loss of blood is also evident
due to impairment of the blood clotting process. The deficiency of folic acid produces
megaloblastic anemia, which impacts individual health.
Question two
Esophageal varices are the bleeding associated with a high mortality rate and occur in
individuals with liver disease. The varices are enlarged veins that appear abnormal in the
esophagus. The esophageal varices are triggered by portal hypertension due to blockage of
normal blood flow in the liver. This blockage increases portal vein pressure causing
portosystemic shunts development. The pressure is due to the blood flowing into smaller blood
vessels not designed for a large amount of blood. Such pressure can cause a rupture triggering
life-threatening bleeding. It is one of the deadly complications of cirrhosis as the collateral
circulation between the portal vein, and coronary vein causes dilation. Such a situation can lead
to morbidity in cirrhosis patients (Hu et al., 2020). Normally, varices don't have signs until the
Alcohol is one of the legal drinks, and many people enjoy drinking it. In the beginning,
everybody thinks alcohol is good for fun or relaxation of the mind. Over time it becomes a habit
leading to addiction. At this stage, it becomes difficult to deal with or quit drinking. In this case,
Robert has been dealing with alcoholism for over 30 years despite his old age. Despite the
drinking habit, he also has anemic and cirrhosis, including low appetite. Also, he has been
experiencing regular abdominal pain but refuses to seek medical help. Consistent excessive
drinking is risky as it causes alcohol-related steatohepatitis, which affects individual health
status. Also, this excessive drinking habit makes the liver fatty triggering different health
complications. In the early liver disease stage, minimal symptoms are evident, making one feel
okay, but all is not well. As it progresses, it results in irreversible cirrhosis requiring medical care
and treatment to control the symptoms. This paper presents a review of Robert's case, an
individual dealing with an alcoholic habit for over 30 years.
Question one
The liver is a site for coagulation factors synthesis, including their inhibitors. Also, it is a
central agent in the body's hemostasis function, making it an important organ in the body. Due
to such roles, individuals with liver disease encounter difficulty in blood clotting and suffer from
anemia. The present disease impairs the function of the liver affecting the production of blood
clotting factors. The production of fibrinogen decreases, affecting the process of blood clotting.
The decreased production of clotting factors and fibrinogen creates difficulty during blood
, ALCOHOL LIVER DISEASE 2
clotting as the factors responsible are insufficient (Baja, 2019). The factors form blood-borne
materials called fibrin which help avoid excessive blood loss in the body. Also, the blood
clotting time is increased by a situation like malabsorption of vitamin K, which causes
insufficiency. Again the disruption in fat metabolism can cause hemolysis by affecting the
phospholipid cell membrane found in red blood cells.
Such impact continues to make the liver dysfunctional, decreasing blood elements in the
body, triggering leukopenia and anemia. When the liver fails to function properly, several
changes are evident in hemostasis. The triggering factors for change include reduction of plasma
level of factors like anticoagulant synthesized by the liver. Some of the changes include fat and
clotting factor production, such as factors 7, 9, and 10, vital for blood clotting. Also, portocaval
change is evident due to anemia, one of the liver diseases. Excessive loss of blood is also evident
due to impairment of the blood clotting process. The deficiency of folic acid produces
megaloblastic anemia, which impacts individual health.
Question two
Esophageal varices are the bleeding associated with a high mortality rate and occur in
individuals with liver disease. The varices are enlarged veins that appear abnormal in the
esophagus. The esophageal varices are triggered by portal hypertension due to blockage of
normal blood flow in the liver. This blockage increases portal vein pressure causing
portosystemic shunts development. The pressure is due to the blood flowing into smaller blood
vessels not designed for a large amount of blood. Such pressure can cause a rupture triggering
life-threatening bleeding. It is one of the deadly complications of cirrhosis as the collateral
circulation between the portal vein, and coronary vein causes dilation. Such a situation can lead
to morbidity in cirrhosis patients (Hu et al., 2020). Normally, varices don't have signs until the
