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The hands in alcoholic liver disease.
J N Plevris1, J L Hauer, P C Hayes
1University Department of Medicine, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, Scotland.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|April 1, 1991
Summary
Patients with alcoholic liver disease often experience cold hands, a symptom correlated with disease severity. Hand temperature perception in alcoholic liver disease follows a distinct pattern related to disease progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Cardiovascular Physiology
Background:
- Chronic liver disease typically presents with hyperdynamic circulation and warm extremities.
- However, a notable subset of alcoholic liver disease patients report cold hands, contrasting with typical presentations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of subjective cold hands in alcoholic liver disease patients.
- To correlate hand temperature perception with the severity of alcoholic liver disease.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 114 alcoholic liver disease patients and 96 healthy controls.
- Assessment of subjective hand temperature awareness and correlation with liver disease staging.
Main Results:
- Significantly more alcoholic liver disease patients reported cold hands compared to controls, particularly males.
- Cold hand awareness was most prominent in patients with intermediate liver disease severity (non-cirrhotic without varices to cirrhotic with varices).
Conclusions:
- Subjective hand temperature in alcoholic liver disease is linked to disease stage.
- Patients may experience warm hands early, followed by cold hands, and then a return to warm hands in later stages.