Articles on Medical Diseases and Conditions

Cirrhosis is frequently associated with hyponatremia and hypokalemia, either separately or concurrently. There are a variety of etiologies: ascitic fluid sequestration; attempts at diuresis, often superimposed on poor diet or sodium restriction; paracentesis therapy; and hemodilution. Electrolyte abnormalities are more likely to appear when ascites is present and are more severe if azotemia complicates liver […]

The most common etiologies of portal cirrhosis are alcohol, hepatitis virus, or unknown (cryptogenic) cause. Less common causes are primary biliary cirrhosis and genetically related cirrhosis (Wilson’s disease, hemochromatosis, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency). Cirrhosis exhibits a wide spectrum of test results, depending on whether the disease is active or inactive and on the degree of […]