Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 23, 2026
05:34
Auricular Acupuncture as a Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Combined with Sleep Disorders
Published on: August 18, 2023
Sleep disorders in chronic liver disease
Sharon De Cruz1, Joseph Roland D Espiritu, Michelle Zeidler
1Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California 90095-1690, USA.
Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine
|March 27, 2012
Summary
Sleep disturbances are common in chronic liver disease and impact patient prognosis. This review covers sleep issues in various liver conditions, including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and hepatic encephalopathy.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Sleep Medicine
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Sleep disturbances are increasingly recognized in chronic liver disease (CLD).
- These sleep issues are significant prognostic factors in advanced CLD.
- Existing literature on sleep disorders across diverse CLD types requires synthesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To comprehensively review sleep disturbances and disorders in various chronic liver diseases.
- To examine the links between specific CLDs (e.g., hepatitis C, primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson disease) and sleep problems.
- To detail the association between CLD, particularly nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB).
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on sleep disturbances in CLD.
- Analysis of associations between hepatitis C and antiviral therapy with sleep.
- Examination of sleep issues in primary biliary cirrhosis, Wilson disease, and cirrhosis with hepatic encephalopathy.
- Review of the relationship between NAFLD and SDB.
Main Results:
- Sleep disturbances are prevalent across multiple forms of CLD.
- Specific associations exist between hepatitis C, antiviral treatments, and sleep quality.
- Circadian rhythm abnormalities are noted in cirrhosis and hepatic encephalopathy.
- A significant link is established between NAFLD and SDB.
Conclusions:
- Sleep disturbances are a critical, often overlooked, aspect of CLD management.
- Understanding these sleep issues is vital for improving patient outcomes and prognosis in CLD.
- Further research into the mechanisms and treatments for sleep disorders in CLD is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Chronic liver disease significantly impacts drug metabolism due to alterations in hepatic blood flow and enzyme accessibility. This disruption affects the body's pharmacokinetics—the movement and processing of drugs within the system. Key enzymes crucial for metabolizing medications become less accessible, changing how drugs are processed and utilized. Furthermore, liver disease influences the synthesis of plasma proteins, such as albumin and globulins, which play critical roles in drug binding...
01:24Sleep-Wake Cycles
Sleep is an essential physiological process vital to maintaining overall well-being. The reticular activating system (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, regulates wakefulness and sleep. While it may seem passive, sleep consists of distinct cycles, each with its unique characteristics and functions. Two key sleep phases are non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM).
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
NREM Sleep
NREM sleep comprises four progressive stages that seamlessly merge:
01:22Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
In clinical practice, the direct measurement of hepatic blood flow to evaluate liver function presents significant challenges due to the intricate and specialized nature of the necessary techniques. Consequently, healthcare professionals often rely on empirical estimates derived from thorough patient examinations and liver function tests to gauge liver health. Among the tools at their disposal, the Child–Pugh and MELD scoring systems stand out for their ability to categorize and assess the...
01:23Cirrhosis I: Introduction
Cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible liver disease characterized by the widespread replacement of healthy liver tissue with fibrotic scar tissue and the formation of regenerative nodules.Etiology of cirrhosisCirrhosis results from sustained liver injury that triggers progressive fibrosis and structural remodeling. The underlying causes are diverse, encompassing common and less frequent clinical conditions. Regardless of the origin, all causes lead to chronic inflammation, hepatocyte loss, and...
01:27Insomnia
Insomnia is a prevalent sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep, frequent awakenings during the night, and waking up too early without being able to return to sleep. People with insomnia often experience these disruptions at least three nights a week for at least one month. Chronic insomnia, which lasts for at least three months, can lead to increased anxiety, which in turn can worsen sleep difficulties, creating a cycle of sleeplessness and stress.
Multiple factors contribute...
Multiple factors contribute...
01:07Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a chronic sleep disorder characterized by pervasive, uncontrolled sleepiness and other sleep disturbances. One of its hallmark symptoms is an abrupt transition to REM sleep upon falling asleep, which causes symptoms typically associated with this phase to occur unexpectedly during wakefulness. These include the following symptoms, which typically last from a minute or two to half an hour.