Diagnosis | Liver skin sign

Diagnosis

Liver skin signs can be more or less pronounced and a doctor should always be consulted if these skin changes are present. The doctor recognizes the typical skin changes and rashes by means of inspection (gaze diagnosis) of the patient. In the following he can evaluate the liver by means of ultrasound examination and determine the liver values in the blood. This makes it possible to determine whether there is liver damage or cirrhosis of the liver. Accordingly, the disease can be treated.

Liver values

If there are skin changes that indicate liver damage, the doctor always checks the so-called liver values in the blood. These are the concentrations of certain enzymes (i.e. proteins) in the blood that provide information about liver function. These enzymes do not normally belong in the blood.

However, if their concentration in the blood increases, this is a sign that liver cells have died – this is the case with liver failure. Liver parameters include An increase in these values indicates liver damage and requires further clarification.

• GPT (glutamate pyruvate transaminase also known as alanine aminotransaminase (ALT, ALAT)),
• GOT (Glutamate Oxalacetate Transaminase also called Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST, ASAT)),
• Gamma-GT (gamma-glutamyl transferase)
• And the alkaline phosphatase (AP).

Therapy

The treatment of skin changes in liver damage is based on the therapy of the triggering underlying disease. Patients with liver damage must absolutely avoid substances that have a toxic effect on the liver. These include alcohol and certain drugs toxic to the liver.

In addition, a balanced, low-salt diet with sufficient energy intake should be followed. In case of deficiency symptoms, fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) as well as vitamin B12 must be substituted. The administration of coagulation factors may also be necessary if there is an increased risk of bleeding.

Portal hypertension can be reduced by medication (e.g. non-selective beta-blockers such as propranolol), which leads to an improvement of the caput medusae and spider naevi. Draining drugs (loop diuretics) are used to treat ascites. Untreated chronic liver diseases always end in cirrhosis of the liver, which is irreversible and can no longer be treated. The only option for patients is then a liver transplant.