What do doctors mean by the term asterixis? Methods of its diagnosis and treatment
The word asterixis took roots in Greek and literally means "support."Often this disease can be heard under the name of a clapping tremor or a hepatic clap. Symptom of this disease is involuntary twitching of the hand in the wrist or feet. Such twitching results from a violation of postural control. Movements in people with asterixis are very sweeping and arrhythmic.
The first time such a disorder was discovered and described in 1949 in a patient with liver failure or a scientific name of encephalopathy. Asterixis occurs in different muscle groups that are in a state of prolonged contraction. If a person with such a disease pulls his hands forward, bends his wrist or fingers, it is very easy to see his disorder, which is the result of asterixis.
This pathology is predetermined by the paroxysmal recurrent lowering of the vital functions of the muscle, which is responsible for maintaining a certain posture. It is for this reason that the manifestations of asterixis are like a clapping tremor that occurs when a person extends an arm or extends a brush. Very often this state proceeds bilaterally, but its manifestation is asynchronous from both sides.
Causes of flapping tremor
The most important and the main reason specialized neurologists consider various kinds of encephalopathy, but those that are directly related to damage to metabolism in humans. But most often, asterixis is manifested in patients with hepatic encephalopathy. They appear as a consequence of the lack and death of neurons of the brain. The most frequent manifestation of this sign is considered in patients with encephalopathy, which are in the state of stupor or soporus. It can also be determined when the acute morula of liver failure. For example, when a person has cirrhosis or hepatitis.
An important role is also played by medical episodes of flapping tremor in patients with the presence of azotemia against a background of acute or prolonged renal failure.
There are also some cases when this disease appears due to some abnormal moves, for example, poisoning, hypomagnesemia, congenital anomaly of the lungs with the presence of hypoglycemia, and also with botulism with barbiturates.
As mentioned before, asterixis can be either one-way or two-way. The latter is considered to be the outcome of hepatic encephalopathy, possible with mocherocia and also non-ketotic
The appearance of unilateral asterixis is possible with other symptoms, for example, ischemic or hemorrhagic lesions of those structures that are responsible for the regulation of movements, even striotocapsular infarction, as well as the damage of various kinds of spinal cord.
Asterixis treatment methods
To establish an accurate diagnosis for this disease, it is necessary to undergo more than one examination, they must recognize the disease of the nervous system and identify various other ailments if they are present. In the process of diagnosis, it is important to determine the nature and localization of the damage process.
When doctors collect anamnesis data, they should take into account any patient complaints in order to determine the diagnosis as accurately as possible. These complaints can include not only the patient's words, but also various manifestations of violations that the relatives of the patient noted.
An important consideration is also an attentive study of the anamnesis of relatives, because very often nervous diseases can be hereditary. Studying the history of relatives, you need to pay attention not only to the symptoms of asterixis, but also for various pathologies that can be combined with this disease. Such pathologies can be ordinary migraines, stammering, epileptic seizures and nocturnal enuresis.
To cure an asterix, you need to identify, identify and eliminate factors that could affect the development of such a symptom. It is also important for this disease to follow a diet and undergo specific therapy. Basically, to cure asterixis, you need to pay attention to the underlying disease and try to eliminate it.
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