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HEPATOLOGY QUESTIONs HEALTH ISSUE: RED, FLAT SKIN LESIONS (PHOTOS UPLOADED
Posted on
Sun, 15 Sep 2019
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Sun, 15 Sep 2019
Answered on
Last reviewed on
Question : HEPATOLOGY QUESTIONs
HEALTH ISSUE: RED, FLAT SKIN LESIONS (PHOTOS UPLOADED OF BACK, RIGHT FLANK, ABDOMEN, RIGHT SHOULDER & ONE LEG)
PATIENT: 87 YR. OLD FEMALE, FRAGILE, EXTREMELY SKINNY; NO MUSCLE; LARGE PROTRUDING ABDOMEN; NO APPETITE; HAS COGNITIVE DECLINE, PROGRESSIVE DEMENTIA, MINIMAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING , ETC. BUT STILL HAS SELF-AWARENESS & PERFORMS BASIC DAILY FUNCTIONS (EATING, DRESSING, BATHING, TOILETING, ETC.).
MEDICATIONS: SYNTHROID 5 MG./TAKING NO OTHER MEDS
NO AVAILABLE RECENT BLOOD TESTS; NO IMAGING TESTS TAKEN YET
QUESTION: Patient has flat, red, tiny, irregular lesions that do not blister, ooze/weep, bleed, ulcerate or itch on upper back, right shoulder, abdomen, leg & right flank. Could these skin lesions be a sign/symptom/result of liver disease or even cirrhosis (compensated or de-compensated)? She also has an abnormal lack of appetite, very large abdomen; drinks wine (only) daily with dinner only approx one or two 8 ounce glasses maximum; no other drinking/she is supervised 24/7 by an adult within her home so alcohol consumption is verified.
QUESTION #2: If this is possibly liver disease skin condition; would these skin conditions point closer to cirrhosis or earlier stage liver disease? There are no other past confirm diseases or disorders: no HIV, AIDS, HEPATITIS A, B OR C, auto-immune, Wilson's, etc. in the past history.
QUESTION #3: If this is possibly cirrhosis, would skin lesions typical of severe liver disease point to compensated or decompensated? Thank you.
HEALTH ISSUE: RED, FLAT SKIN LESIONS (PHOTOS UPLOADED OF BACK, RIGHT FLANK, ABDOMEN, RIGHT SHOULDER & ONE LEG)
PATIENT: 87 YR. OLD FEMALE, FRAGILE, EXTREMELY SKINNY; NO MUSCLE; LARGE PROTRUDING ABDOMEN; NO APPETITE; HAS COGNITIVE DECLINE, PROGRESSIVE DEMENTIA, MINIMAL EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONING , ETC. BUT STILL HAS SELF-AWARENESS & PERFORMS BASIC DAILY FUNCTIONS (EATING, DRESSING, BATHING, TOILETING, ETC.).
MEDICATIONS: SYNTHROID 5 MG./TAKING NO OTHER MEDS
NO AVAILABLE RECENT BLOOD TESTS; NO IMAGING TESTS TAKEN YET
QUESTION: Patient has flat, red, tiny, irregular lesions that do not blister, ooze/weep, bleed, ulcerate or itch on upper back, right shoulder, abdomen, leg & right flank. Could these skin lesions be a sign/symptom/result of liver disease or even cirrhosis (compensated or de-compensated)? She also has an abnormal lack of appetite, very large abdomen; drinks wine (only) daily with dinner only approx one or two 8 ounce glasses maximum; no other drinking/she is supervised 24/7 by an adult within her home so alcohol consumption is verified.
QUESTION #2: If this is possibly liver disease skin condition; would these skin conditions point closer to cirrhosis or earlier stage liver disease? There are no other past confirm diseases or disorders: no HIV, AIDS, HEPATITIS A, B OR C, auto-immune, Wilson's, etc. in the past history.
QUESTION #3: If this is possibly cirrhosis, would skin lesions typical of severe liver disease point to compensated or decompensated? Thank you.
Brief Answer:
Decompensated liver failure very likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen the photos attached,
Answer to your question are as follows,
1)Spider angiomas, Bier spots, and “paper-money” skin are all superficial vascular problems that may be related to liver disease.
Very likely she is landing up into decompensation of liver causing Hepatic encephalopathy.
2)No this skin condition along with other symptoms usually is seen in late stage of cirrhosis of liver.
3)Though exact comment could be made only after baseline investigations are done like-
-Serum ammonia levels
-A CT scan of abdomen
-Liver function tests
But primie facia it looks like a case of decompensation of liver.
Hope I was easy to understand.
Follow up with reports.
Thanks you.
Decompensated liver failure very likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello and thanks for choosing "Ask a Doctor" service for your query,
Have seen the photos attached,
Answer to your question are as follows,
1)Spider angiomas, Bier spots, and “paper-money” skin are all superficial vascular problems that may be related to liver disease.
Very likely she is landing up into decompensation of liver causing Hepatic encephalopathy.
2)No this skin condition along with other symptoms usually is seen in late stage of cirrhosis of liver.
3)Though exact comment could be made only after baseline investigations are done like-
-Serum ammonia levels
-A CT scan of abdomen
-Liver function tests
But primie facia it looks like a case of decompensation of liver.
Hope I was easy to understand.
Follow up with reports.
Thanks you.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Answered by
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