Alcohol cirrhosis of the liver

Diagnosis of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver was made based on Mrs MW s clinical features, liver function tests, abdominal ultrasound, CT scan and liver biopsy. 

There is evidence that phosphatidylcholine (a major component of lecithin) is important as a nutritional supplement to fetal and infant development. Furthermore, choline is a required component of FDA-approved infant formulas. Other studies have indicated that lecithin can protect against alcohol cirrhosis of the liver, lower serum cholesterol levels, and improve mental and physical performance. ... 

Patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver have greatly reduced hepatic lycopene concentrations indeed, hepatic lycopene seems to offer a sensitive index of hepatic health. Studies of organ concentrations (Table 3), suggest a gradient from circulating levels in plasma to different ones in specific tissues. The different carotenoid ratios between organs (not shown) also indicate selective transport and accumulation. However, the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. No lycopene is detectable in the retina or lens of the eye, where lutein and zeax-anthin are found however, lycopene is present in the ciliary body. 

The known occurrence of megaloblastic anaemia in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver treated with triamterene was confirmed by another case report (27 ) the patient, who had a folate deficiency and bone-marrow megaloblastosis, presented with acute pancytopenia. Inhibition of dihy-drofolate-reductase is the suspected mechanism the condition is thus analogous to the megaloblastic anaemia associated with methotrexate, trimetoprim and certain other drugs. Therapy consists of parenteral folate administration. 

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