[Evolution of cutaneous changes observed in cirrhosis patients before and after liver transplantation]

In 11 patients with liver cirrhosis a prospective study concerning the evolution of skin changes before and after liver transplantation was performed. Etiology of the disease was: alcoholic in 5 cases, post-inflammatory in 4 cases and primary biliary cirrhosis in 2. Evolution of: nevi spiders, erythema palmar, changes in nails, Hippocrates fingers, discoloration of legs, bilateral Dupuytren's disease and gynecomastia (in man) were estimated. At the same time sex hormones levels were measured. One month after liver transplantation a reduction of total spiders number as well as the frequency of the erythema palmare and nails changes was observed. During the next few months we observed disappearance of the legs discoloration and signs of gynecomastia and Hippocrates fingers. Only the Dupuytren's contractures remained unchanged. There was no correlation between sex hormones levels and skin changes except decrease of the total testosterone level (p < 0.05) and an increase of free testosterone to total testosterone ratio (p < 0.02) in women and a decrease of estradiol level (p < 0.02) in women and a decrease of estradiol level (p < 0.002) in men after operation.

skin changes typical for liver cirrhosis can be reversible after liver transplantation.