Can liver disease cause itchy skin?
May 19, 2022
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Wang Xiaoyan
Introduction
Liver disease can cause pruritus (itching of the skin), and the characteristics of itching vary depending on the type of liver disease. Bilirubin is the primary pigment in bile, and the liver secretes bile to facilitate fat digestion. In patients with liver disease, abnormalities in bile secretion and metabolism occur, leading to cholestasis (bile accumulation), which stimulates nerve endings and subsequently causes skin itching.
Liver disease refers to pathological conditions affecting the liver, including hepatitis B, hepatitis A, hepatitis C, cirrhosis, hepatic steatosis (fatty liver), hepatocellular carcinoma, and alcoholic liver disease, among others. Many patients wonder whether liver disease can cause pruritus (itching of the skin). The details are as follows:
Indeed, liver disease can cause pruritus, and the nature and severity of itching may vary depending on the specific type of liver disease.
Bilirubin is the primary pigment in bile, which the liver secretes to aid fat digestion. In patients with liver disease, abnormal bile secretion and metabolism occur, leading to cholestasis (bile accumulation). This accumulation irritates cutaneous nerve endings, thereby triggering pruritus.
The liver functions as a detoxifying organ. During hepatic inflammation or injury, hepatic glycogen synthesis progressively declines. Consequently, postprandial hyperglycemia may develop. Elevated blood glucose levels can similarly stimulate cutaneous nerve endings, resulting in pruritus.
Moreover, it is important to note that hepatic inflammation or injury impairs glucose regulation. Specifically, the liver’s ability to degrade insulin diminishes, leading to gradually increasing insulin levels. This results in hypoglycemia—characterized not only by pruritus but also by other symptoms associated with low blood sugar.
