Cirrhosis link to strokes

OLDER adults suffering from cirrhosis, severe scarring of the liver, may be at an increased risk of stroke, especially haemorrhagic, a study has found.

Cirrhosis is a condition of chronic liver damage from a variety of causes leading to scarring and liver failure.

The findings showed the incidence of stroke was 2.17% per year in patients with cirrhosis and 1.11% per year in patients without cirrhosis.

“Cirrhosis is associated with extrahepatic hemorrhagic and thrombotic processes, such as gastrointestinal bleeding and venous thromboembolism,” said Neal S Parikh, of the New York-Presbyterian Hospital.

Cirrhosis is caused by alcohol abuse, hepatitis C infection and metabolic diseases.