This is an automatically translated article.
The article is expertly consulted by MSc Vu Tan Phuc - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine, Vinmec Phu Quoc International General Hospital.Liver function decreases with age as the size and blood flow to the liver decrease. The prevalence of chronic liver disease is increasing in the elderly population. Liver disease in the elderly is often difficult to detect due to its silent onset, unclear symptoms, and difficult treatment. Therefore, liver disease in the elderly can easily lead to severe complications and high mortality. Elderly people are at high risk of some liver diseases as well as severe complications such as liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, especially in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease.
The aging process affects different liver diseases due to:
The volume of the liver is reduced by 20% - 40%, the blood flow to the liver is reduced by 35% - 50%, the ability to regenerate the liver is reduced,... liver volume depletion, age-related decline in liver function. In the elderly, there is a risk of decreased blood albumin, increased liver enzymes, increased blood bilirubin,... Decreased activity of cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which is the main enzyme involved in drug metabolism, leading to decreased metabolism. Drugs, chemicals in the liver easily cause liver damage due to drugs, foods and toxic chemicals. The immune response against pathogens and malignant cells weakens, in the elderly, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of viral hepatitis, viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver disease, fatty liver, etc. Impaired immune surveillance is also associated with the development of HCC.
1. The link between liver disease and the aging process
Liver function decreases with age as the size and blood flow to the liver decrease. The prevalence of chronic liver disease is increasing in the elderly population. Liver disease in the elderly is often difficult to detect due to its silent onset, unclear symptoms, and difficult treatment. Therefore, liver disease in the elderly can easily lead to severe complications and high mortality. Elderly people are at high risk of some liver diseases as well as severe complications such as liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer, especially in patients with pre-existing chronic liver disease.The aging process affects different liver diseases due to:
The volume of the liver is reduced by 20% - 40%, the blood flow to the liver is reduced by 35% - 50%, the ability to regenerate the liver is reduced,... liver volume depletion, age-related decline in liver function. In the elderly, there is a risk of decreased blood albumin, increased liver enzymes, increased blood bilirubin,... Decreased activity of cytochrome P450 enzyme system, which is the main enzyme involved in drug metabolism, leading to decreased metabolism. Drugs, chemicals in the liver easily cause liver damage due to drugs, foods and toxic chemicals. The immune response against pathogens and malignant cells weakens, in the elderly, there is an increased risk of outbreaks of viral hepatitis, viral hepatitis, autoimmune liver disease, fatty liver, etc. Impaired immune surveillance is also associated with the development of HCC.
Quá trình lão hóa là nguyên nhân khiến người cao tuổi dễ gặp các bệnh lý về gan
2. Common liver diseases in the elderly
Fatty liver: This is a common disease in middle-aged and elderly people. Aging is associated with the development of fatty liver, and elderly patients have a higher risk of fatty liver disease due to a number of comorbidities such as hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and obesity. increased blood lipids. Autoimmune liver disease: The prevalence of autoimmune liver disease, including autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary cirrhosis, is also seen in elderly patients, nearly 20% of patients with autoimmune hepatitis develop after age 60 and the disease is common. progression to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and primary cholestatic cirrhosis in elderly patients also have a very poor prognosis and poor response to treatment. Viral hepatitis: Elderly people with hepatitis B (HBV), hepatitis C (HCV) are at risk of outbreaks leading to liver failure, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis : The incidence of chronic liver disease is increasing in the elderly, but it is often difficult to detect because most cases are asymptomatic or have nonspecific symptoms. Drug-induced liver damage: Elderly people often have many diseases at the same time, so they often have to use a lot of drugs, most drugs are metabolized by the liver, adding to the burden on the liver. Therefore, the elderly are very susceptible to liver damage caused by drugs. Cirrhosis is a consequence of normal structural damage and loss of liver cells, affecting the normal metabolic and synthetic functions of the liver. Aging has been implicated as a risk factor for the progression of cirrhosis in the elderly, especially in those with pre-existing chronic liver damage such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic hepatitis, etc.
Xơ gan là một bệnh lý thường gặp về gan mà người cao tuổi gặp phải
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