Can liver disease cause itchy skin?
Jun 01, 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 pruritus.
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 lead to cholestasis (bile accumulation), which irritates cutaneous nerve endings and thereby induces pruritus.
The liver functions as a major detoxifying organ. During hepatic inflammation or injury, glycogen synthesis progressively declines. This reduction may result in postprandial hyperglycemia. Elevated blood glucose levels, in turn, stimulate cutaneous nerve endings and contribute to pruritus.
Additionally, it is important to note that hepatic inflammation and injury impair glucose regulation. Specifically, the liver’s ability to degrade insulin diminishes, leading to gradually increasing insulin levels. Consequently, blood glucose levels fall, not only causing pruritus but also predisposing patients to hypoglycemia.
