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What Is Haemorrhagic Sclerosis?

Posted on Mon, 5 May 2014

Question: Hi Doctor, what is haemorrhagic sclerosis? This is a new medical condition. Can you please provide some more information and how it may lead to intermittent confusion, jaundice and pruritis? Thanks so much for the help.

Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (22 minutes later)

Brief Answer: No such entity Detailed Answer: Hi, As far as I can ascertain there is no such medical condition. Haemorrhage means to bleed and sclerosis means to scar, but these two words together do not define any one particular illness or condition. If you could check to make sure you have the correct terms or post some further information that would be useful. The symptoms that you describe are consistent with liver disease causing jaundice, confusion and itching - pruritis. There is an autoimmue condition called primary sclerosing cholangitis where the bile ducts from the liver become scarred and closed off leading to liver damage and causing such symptoms, is it possible that this is what you are describing? Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Karl Logan (11 minutes later)

In a small village in South XXXXXXX a cluster of individuals have recently become unwell, reporting the same set of unusual symptoms. Some patients have recovered from Haemorrhagic Sclerosis after moving out of the area, while others have died as a result of this condition which is believed to occur as a result of exposure to an environmental toxin. Patients initially present with numerous small bruises (petechiae) covering their body and generally feel unwell. Over time, symptoms progress to intermittent confusion, jaundice and pruritus. Autopsies have revealed that the petechiae are a result of the toxin making the capillaries ‘leaky’, causing numerous small haemorrhages throughout the skin and other organs. Histological examination showed extensive scarring of the capillaries and also within the tissues surrounding the scarred vessels. ------------------------------------ Hi Doc, I need to know how hemorrhagic sclerosis may lead to each symptoms: intermittent confusion, jaundice and pruritus. Could you also please discuss one other potential adverse side effect of the condition? Please provide in details if possible. Thanks for the quick response. XXXX

Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (28 minutes later)

Brief Answer: Interesting question Detailed Answer: Toxins generally cause liver damage. When the liver stops working properly then waste substances accumulate in the blood and the substances that the liver produces decline such as clotting factors causing bleeding. All of the symptoms you describe in your question can occur as a result of damage to the liver. They would be most commonly be seen in alcoholic liver damage (alcohol taken in large enough quantities is toxic) but can be seen in any person who has come into contact with a toxin or drug that can cause liver damage. Confusion - secondary to waste products that the liver is no longer breaking down accumulating in the blood stream and crossing the blood brain barrier. Jaundice and itching - due to the accumulation of bilirubin in the blood stream that the liver is no longer able to excrete in the bile. Haemorrhage due to the fact that the damaged liver can no longer manufacture clotting factors. I hope this is the information that you are looking for. Best wishes

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad

Follow up: Dr. Karl Logan (2 hours later)

Hi Doc, Could you also please explain how the multiple small hemorrhages and scarring affects this normal process, leading to that symptom? What other organs/processes could be affected by Hemorrhagic Sclerosis and please explain also the normal process that occur in that organ? Thanks again, XXXX

Answered by Dr. Karl Logan (14 hours later)

Brief Answer: All organ systems can be affected by liver failure Detailed Answer: Hi, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by your first question. I have tried to answer that in the previous answer. As there is no medical literature on this condition I do not really know how else to respond. All of the other organ systems in the body could be affected by liver failure if that is the mechanism by which the toxin that is described in your text affects patinets. The function of those organ systems whether it be the heart or the kidneys would suffer as a result of this afflication. I hope this answers your questions although they are somewhat difficult to respond to. Best wishes

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T