MSN 550 Week 8 Assignment (Advanced Pathophysiology)
West Coast University
MSNR 550 – Advanced Pathophysiology
, Lecturio Reflection & Analysis
There are three conditions that are heavily related with one another and in clinical
practice, when one manifests the other two follow relatively close if no prompt treatment is
initiated. The development of liver cirrhosis leads to secondary portal hypertension and ascites;
therefore, ascites and portal hypertension are not necessarily a condition, but rather a
byproduct of liver cirrhosis. Currently, these three conditions are not transmittable, meaning
they cannot be contracted via any vector or mode of transmission such as airborne, contact or
air droplets. Treatment and lifestyle changes can provide symptom improvement and potentially
help extend the patient’s lifespan and improve quality of life, however due to the disease
progression, a liver transplant is usually necessary to correct the underlying problem which will
alleviate portal hypertension and ascites (Rogers, 2022).
Liver Cirrhosis
The risk factors for liver cirrhosis include heavy alcohol consumption, frequent and
prolonged acetaminophen use, hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease and smoking. These risk
factors can trigger the pathophysiology by initiation of an inflammatory response from
cytokines which transform liver cells (hepatic stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer
cells) into myofibroblasts resulting in undesired fibrotic repair leading to liver failure (Sharma &
John, 2022). Clinical manifestations of liver cirrhosis include weakness, fatigue, jaundice,
pruritus, spider angioma, ascites, and portal hypertension. The primary medical concerns for
this patient population is management of portal hypertension to reduce ascites, splenomegaly
and variceal rupture that can cause extensive bleeding. The primary psychosocial concern for
these patients includes body dysmorphia that can be triggered by the onset of jaundice and
West Coast University
MSNR 550 – Advanced Pathophysiology
, Lecturio Reflection & Analysis
There are three conditions that are heavily related with one another and in clinical
practice, when one manifests the other two follow relatively close if no prompt treatment is
initiated. The development of liver cirrhosis leads to secondary portal hypertension and ascites;
therefore, ascites and portal hypertension are not necessarily a condition, but rather a
byproduct of liver cirrhosis. Currently, these three conditions are not transmittable, meaning
they cannot be contracted via any vector or mode of transmission such as airborne, contact or
air droplets. Treatment and lifestyle changes can provide symptom improvement and potentially
help extend the patient’s lifespan and improve quality of life, however due to the disease
progression, a liver transplant is usually necessary to correct the underlying problem which will
alleviate portal hypertension and ascites (Rogers, 2022).
Liver Cirrhosis
The risk factors for liver cirrhosis include heavy alcohol consumption, frequent and
prolonged acetaminophen use, hepatitis B and C, fatty liver disease and smoking. These risk
factors can trigger the pathophysiology by initiation of an inflammatory response from
cytokines which transform liver cells (hepatic stellate cells, sinusoidal endothelial cells, Kupffer
cells) into myofibroblasts resulting in undesired fibrotic repair leading to liver failure (Sharma &
John, 2022). Clinical manifestations of liver cirrhosis include weakness, fatigue, jaundice,
pruritus, spider angioma, ascites, and portal hypertension. The primary medical concerns for
this patient population is management of portal hypertension to reduce ascites, splenomegaly
and variceal rupture that can cause extensive bleeding. The primary psychosocial concern for
these patients includes body dysmorphia that can be triggered by the onset of jaundice and
