CA
A 24-year-old member asked:
How could alcoholic liver disease have led to a brain bleed?
5 doctor answers • 10 doctors weighed in
Dr. Roger Frankelanswered
Neurosurgery 31 years experience
Clotting disorder: Alcoholic liver disease is associated with inadequate clotting factors in the blood. If the blood cannot clot properly, bleeding episodes can be much more severe.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Stuart Wasseranswered
Addiction Medicine 37 years experience
Absolutely: If your liver disease is severe enough, you are more likely to bleed in multiple ways including into the brain.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. Estrada Bernardanswered
Neurosurgery 40 years experience
Impaired clotting: If liver disease is severe enough, it will affect the normal clotting function and lead to an increased risk of bleeding into the brain and other organs. Other issues may be in play in the context of alcoholism. These would include nutritional status, hypertension and platelet (blood clotting cells) function.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
Dr. John Funganswered
General Surgery 41 years experience
Also consider trauma: In addition for patients with advanced liver disease due to alcohol abuse to have clotting problems, alcoholism with repeated head traumas, such as falls, has also been associated as a risk factor for acute-on-chronic subdural hematomas (acute-on-chronic subdural hematoma: not uncommon events. J korean neurosurg soc. 2011 dec;50(6):512-6).
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Dr. Jon Krookanswered
General Surgery 26 years experience
Thin blood: If your liver is really bad, the factors that help stop bleeding get low. What would be minor trauma can turn into major trauma in those that are coagulopathic (thin blood) from either illness or acquired from certain medications. Head trauma is deadly in those who have dysfunctional clotting systems.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.4k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
Last updated Mar 1, 2016
People also asked
Connect with a U.S. board-certified doctor by text or video anytime, anywhere.
$44 video appointments with $19/month membership*
*Billed $57 every 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Disclaimer:
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
