Parenchymal jaundice: symptoms, causes, diagnosis

Today, there are many different diseases that people do not often face. However, you still need to know about them at least a little. After all, for example, you can prevent the occurrence of such problems. That is why I would like to tell you in detail about this pathology, like parenchymal jaundice.

Terminology

Before you deal with the disease itself, you need to decide on the concepts that will be actively used in this article. So, parenchymal jaundice is a disease, or rather, a special symptom complex, characterized by the coloring of the icteric color of not only the skin, but also the mucous membranes (sclera of the eyes). This is due to the fact that bilirubin is gradually accumulating in the body of the patient (this is a bile pigment). It is also important to note that this symptom complex indicates that the patient has problems with the liver, which need to be resolved as soon as possible.

It is interesting that in medicine there is also the concept of false jaundice. In this case, not bilirubin is accumulated in the human body, but carotene, a natural substance, due to which the dyeing of the skin takes place. So, this can happen if too often and in large quantities to consume carrots, pumpkin, oranges, as well as beets. A similar problem can arise if you consume picric acid for a long time , as well as some other medications.

Clinical picture

How is this pathology like parenchymal jaundice? The pathogenesis of the disease is as follows. So, initially it should be noted that in normal operation, bilirubin, the bile pigment, is excreted from the body naturally. If there are certain problems in the work of the liver, it begins to gradually accumulate in the body, signaling this by yellowing the skin, as well as mucous membranes. Looking through the information on what parenchymal jaundice is, it is important to say also that this problem has three main stages of development.

1. The first stage. In this case, the activity of enzymes decreases, the hepatocyte membranes are damaged, direct bilirubin ceases to be normally produced.
2. In the second stage of the disease, patients have such a problem as hyperfermentia, the permeability of hepatocyte membranes increases. Pain in the side appears due to squeezing the capillaries.
3. At the third stage there is a violation of the process of glucuronization of bilirubin, liver failure occurs . Also, the urine becomes very light, the pain in the side is constantly felt.

It is worth noting that it is very important to begin to combat parenchymal jaundice at the very first stages of the onset of the disease. After all, in this case, you can cope with the problem much easier and faster. If "delay" the beginning of the process of recovery to the third stage, then it will be very difficult to cure this disease.

Causes of the problem

Why can parenchymal jaundice occur, what are the main causes of its occurrence?

• First of all, it should be noted that the main problem in this case are infectious agents: these are viruses, bacteria, toxins. Most often in this case we are talking about diseases such as malaria, syphilis, toxoplasmosis, etc.
• The defeat of hepatocides with poisons both organic and inorganic. Toxic poisoning of the body can occur due to the use of poisonous mushrooms, poor quality alcohol, after taking arsenic or a snake bite.
• To lead to this problem can also the reception of certain medications that have a hepatotoxic effect. In this case, most often it is a preparation such as "Paracetamol" or antibiotics.

Heredity

Considering the causes of parenchymal jaundice, it must also be said that this disease also has a hereditary factor. That is, it can be transmitted by gender from one member of the family to another.

• There may be a lack of specific ligandin proteins, which are located on the surface of the liver.
• The cause may be a hereditary deficiency of a special enzyme, called UDP-glucuronyltransferase.
• Hereditary is Wilson-Konovalov's disease, when copper accumulates in hepatocytes, because of this genetic defect the functionality of this organ is disrupted.

The main symptomatology

Considering such a disease, as parenchymal jaundice, symptoms - that's what also needs to be told. So, what manifestations does this disease have?

1. First of all, this problem is indicated by yellowing of the skin, as well as mucous membranes, mainly the sclera of the eyes.
2. Also, the patient may have mild itching.
3. There is a headache, a fever, a migraine.
4. Often patients complain of loss of appetite, resulting in a loss of body weight.
5. There are also muscle pains and general weakness.

Indicators of analysis are also changing.

• The feces become light, slightly colored. Everything happens because of the loss of sterocilin, another bile pigment.
• Urine also changes color. Can be either too light or too dark.
• In the blood of patients, the content of direct and indirect bilirubin increases.

Diagnostics

How can you understand that a person has parenchymal jaundice? Diagnosis - that's what will tell you about the existence of this disease. For this you need:

1. Conduct a general analysis of urine, feces, and blood.
2. Assessment of the overall clinical picture.
3. Blood chemistry.
4. Certain instrumental studies can be assigned.

Clinical analyzes

If the patient had an analysis of feces and urine, then in this case, the bilirubin and urobilin levels increase significantly, and the amount of sterbilin falls, which causes a weak coloration of human excreta.

Blood tests will also be needed. In this case, leukocytosis and anemia can be observed. If the patient has parenchymal jaundice, the biochemistry of the blood is what is also important. Here, the indices of bound and unbound bilirubin and urobilin will be increased.

In some cases, the patient will be assigned and other additional studies. It can be:

• Determination of the level of folic acid and vitamin B12 in the blood.
• Definition of oncomarkers.
• Coprogram: analysis of parasites and helminths.

Instrumental research

An experienced specialist can easily distinguish the syndrome of parenchymal jaundice from a full-blown disease. However, in some cases, even the most famous luminaries of medicine need additional instrumental studies to confirm the diagnosis. In this case, the patient may be assigned:

1. Radiography . To identify problems with the stomach, esophagus and intestines.
2. Cholecystography . It is necessary to understand if there are stones in the gallbladder.
3. Ultrasound can provide information about the condition of the liver and other important organs.
4. CT or MRI .

Very rarely, patients are prescribed a liver biopsy.

Treatment

It should be noted that this pathology has several ways of getting rid of it. Everything depends on the degree of neglect of the underlying disease. Most often, doctors prescribe drugs that remove excess bilirubin from the body. However, medication does not always help. In this case, doctors can prescribe a procedure such as phototherapy. And all because the ultraviolet is able to quickly break down the molecules of bilirubin and help their prompt removal. With this disease, it is also important to take a complex of vitamins, especially B and C, lipoic acid and amino acids.

Prevention and Complications

Since parenchymal jaundice is a symptom complex that occurs against a background of other diseases (viral hepatitis B and C, stones in the bladder, etc.), it is very important to start getting rid of these diseases in time. After all, we must remember that if you do not help the patient in time, it can result in certain complications. Namely: the patient can irretrievably break the work of the liver and gallbladder. At the same time, an increased concentration of bilirubin causes intoxication of the body, which negatively affects the work of all its organs and systems.