Cerebral Palsy News

Multaq : Imaging Studies

Usually the doctor will want to obtain at least one imaging study (usually a sono­gram) at some point during the diagnostic evaluation of chronic hepatitis B, especially when LFTs are elevated. While an enlarged liver or spleen may be detected on occasion, in general, imaging studies are usually normal—even in advanced stages of the disease. If liver cancer (hepatoma) is present, a mass may be revealed. See chapter 19 for more information on liver tumors. However, just because the liver looks normal on an imaging study does not mean that the liver is normal. That is why a liver biopsy is necessary when more information about the condition of the liver is needed.

More information on Multaq

The Different Types of Chronic Hepatitis B

People with chronic hepatitis B may be divided into three categories: (1) inactive hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) carrier state; (2) chronic hepatitis B, which is divided into HbeAg positive and HBeAg negative chronic hepatitis B; and (3) re­solved chronic hepatitis B. Everyone with chronic hepatitis B is, by definition, both HBsAg and HBcAb positive. (Refer to table 9.1 on page 100 for a discus­sion of these and some related terms.) This means that both the hepatitis B sur­face antigen and core antibody are detectable in their blood.

Inactive HBsAg Corner Stote

The first type of chronic hepatitis B is found in a person who carries hepatitis B, is HBsAg and HBcAb positive, but who has normal liver enzymes (AST and ALT), a normal physical exam, and is asymptomatic. Such a person is referred to as an in­active carrier of hepatitis B. HBeAg and HBV DNA are negative, and HBeAb is typically positive—indicating that this person is not infectious to others. Inactive carriers of HBV usually have minimal, if any, liver inflammation or damage. They usually live a normal life without any complications due to their liver disease. However, compared with the genera! population, these people are at a somewhat higher risk for cirrhosis and liver cancer. Therefore, regular observation—in the form of visits to the doctor approximately one to two times per year for a physical exam and blood tests—is necessary to check for early signs of disease progression.

Information from other sources on Multaq

Liver Biopsy

As with all liver diseases, even if a person feels Fine, that’s no guarantee that her liver is fine. The only way to determine the degree to which one’s liver is injured is by examining a sample of the liver under a microscope. Therefore, in addition to ob­taining a battery of blood tests, including LFTs and the hepatitis B serology, the doctor will need to perform a liver biopsy to determine the full extent of damage done to the liver by the virus and to determine if treatment is necessary. A liver

biopsy is the only reliable means of determining the presence or absence of cir­rhosis. Some studies have demonstrated that the results of a liver biopsy per­formed promptly after diagnosis can predict the future course of disease.

Our use of the term or terms Multaq is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

To keep up to date on Multaq visit our site often.

http://www.seedol.com

Multaq : The liver is the site of metabolism of many nutrients. Carbohy”drates, fats, and proteins are both broken down and synthesized there. Normal liver function is critical for maintaining adequate blood sugar concentrations. The liver is also the major site of ammonia metabo”lism. Ammonia is a nitrogen compound that primarily results from the metabolism of proteins. Abnormal liver function can cause poor men”tal functioning because ammonia (and probably other nitrogen com”pounds) is not being adequately metabolized.

Because most compounds absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract pass through the liver first before reaching the systemic circulation, the liver is the organ of “first pass” metabolism of many drugs. Many com”pounds present in the environment, some of which are toxins, are also first metabolized in the liver. Metabolism in the liver usually leads to detoxification of environmental compounds, hence the concept that the liver “purifies,” or “cleanses,” the blood. The detoxified metabo”lites are then eliminated from the body by either kidney secretion into the urine or secretion into the bile by the liver. Sometimes, liver metab”olism can lead to the production of metabolites that are more toxic than the parent drug or environmental toxin itself. One example is car”bon tetrachloride, which is metabolized in the liver and becomes an extremely toxic compound that kills liver cells.

More information on Multaq

Bilirubin derives primarily from the breakdown of old red biood cells (a small fraction also comes from the breakdown of proteins in other organs). Dying red blood cells (the life span of a normal red blood cell is approximately 120 days) are taken up by specialized cells—primar”ily in the spleen where they are destroyed. The major red blood cell protein hemoglobin, which is the protein that carries oxygen in the blood, is then chemically converted to bilirubin, which is greenish- yellow in color.

Information from other sources on Multaq

Bilirubin is extremely insoluble in water and circulates in the blood”stream bound to albumin. Albumin-bound bilirubin is taken up from the blood by hepatocytes. In hepatocytes, bilirubin is chemically con-verted by a process called conjugation into an increased water-soluble form. In conjugation, bilirubin undergoes a chemical reaction with a water-soluble compound called glucuronic acid. As a result of this chemical reaction, two glucuronic acid molecules are usually attached to one bilirubin molecule. The result is a compound known as biliru”bin diglucuronide. Bilirubin diglucuronide is generally referred to as conjugated bilirubin. (Actually, a rather small amount of conjugated bilirubin has only one glucuronic acid molecule attached and is known as bilirubin monoglucuronide.) The bilirubin conjugation reaction nor”mally proceeds extremely slowly, but in the liver it is catalyzed (sped up) due to an enzyme known as UDP-glucuronosyltransferase. With”out this enzyme, bilirubin conjugation does not occur to any appre”ciable degree.

Our use of the term or terms Multaq is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

To keep up to date on Multaq visit our site often.

http://www.seedol.com

Multaq : THE LIVER BIOPSY AND WHY IT’S NECESSARY

A liver biopsy is the removal of a tiny piece of liver tissue using a special needle. The fragment taken out resembles a one-inch piece of string or a tiny worm. Its removal does not disturb the functioning of the rest of the liver. The liver sample is sent to a laboratory, where it is carefully examined by a pathologist under a mi­croscope. Hepatologists also have expertise in examining liver biopsy specimens and will customarily examine this sample in conjunction with the pathologist.

More information on Multaq

Microscopes have the capability of greatly magnifying the liver cells— allowing abnormalities to be seen that could not otherwise have been detected by the physical examination, the blood tests, or the imaging studies. The size of the biopsy is approximately I to 3 centimeters in length and approximately 1 to 2 millimeters in diameter. This represents about 1/50,000 of the total mass of the liver. Because most liver diseases affect the entire organ uniformly, this tiny sample is usually rep­resentative of the entire liver and provides a complete story. It is unlikely that this specimen would look better or worse than the rest of the liver, but it can happen— though very rarely. This uncommon occurrence is known as a sampling error.

Information from other sources on Multaq

The liver biopsy is the only diagnostic procedure that can really take the mystery out of liver disease. A biopsy can determine exactly what’s wrong with the liver and exactly how badly the liver has been damaged. This information is crucial in order to outline a course of treatment, assess the response to treatment, and determine a prognosis. The information obtained through a liver biopsy cannot be as accurately obtained through any other method, including imaging studies and extensive blood work. Blood tests, such as FIBROSpect, and combinations of blood tests and clinical features, have been evaluated that may assist in the de­termination of the presence or absence of significant liver scarring without the need of a liver biopsy. However, until this or similar tests that are discussed in de­tail in the next chapter have been validated, a liver biopsy continues to be “the gold standard,”

Our use of the term or terms Multaq is for descriptive purposes only. There is no relationship between the owners of this website and the maker of the product discussed in this post. Our use of the words Recall, Class Action Lawsuit and other similar words related to an event do not necessarily mean that this event has occurred. Refer to the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration for information on drug or medical device recalls. If a Class Action Lawsuit is formed in relation to the product discussed in this post we will provide that information at the time the Class Action is formed. A Class Action Lawsuit is not required to exist for you to file a lawsuit if you have been injured by the product discussed in this post.

To keep up to date on Multaq visit our site often.

http://www.seedol.com