Detecting Concealing Heart Failure in a Young Alcohol-Related Liver Failure Patient Using the Most Basic Pathophysiological Principle

Abstract

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause alcohol-related liver injury (acute alcoholic hepatitis, acute liver failure, hepatic steatosis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis), as well as cardiac injury. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a severe consequence of chronic alcohol abuse. Incidence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy ranges from 1-2% of all heavy alcohol users. In the United States, excess alcohol consumption contributes to more than 10% of cases of heart failure. Here, we present a case of a 41-year-old male patient with severe alcohol abuse who presented with signs and symptoms of liver failure and was found to have severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction and dilated cardiomyopathy. More interestingly, the detection of heart failure in this patient was convoluted but also represented an amazing example of how the most basic pathophysiological principles help answer clinical questions in a perplexing scenario. The patient is a 41-year-old Caucasian male with severe alcohol abuse who presented with complaints of diffuse yellowish discoloration of skin, fatigue, and "feeling not like himself” for six weeks. A review of systems revealed mild exertional dyspnea and bilateral lower extremity swelling. Physical exam was remarkable for diffuse jaundice involving the whole body, tachycardia, and trace edema in the lower extremity bilaterally. Otherwise, lungs were clear to auscultation, normal heart sounds with regular heart rate and rhythm, no Jugular vein distention, and no carotid bruits were appreciated. Labs showed elevated total bilirubin, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), ammonia, and lactate levels. Notably, venous blood gas (VBG) showed metabolic acidosis with compensating respiratory alkalosis with normal potential Hydrogen (pH). An electrocardiogram showed sinus tachycardia. Treatment was started for acute alcoholic liver failure, with intravenous fluids, intravenous prednisolone, and Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment for Alcohol (CIWA) protocol. The patient’s liver function markers went down stably. However, the patient’s mental status got worse and his lactate levels continued to rise. He was prescribed empirical antibiotics with a pan Computed tomography (CT) scan to look for any source of infection which revealed no meaningful positive findings. Surprisingly and interestingly, the venous blood gas pH started to trend up demonstrating alkalotic pH which contrasted the initial normal pH on admission. The metabolic acidosis was seemingly “over-compensated” by respiratory alkalosis. It was speculated that another underlying pathology existed to count for respiratory alkalosis. Chest X-ray (CXR) showed cardiomegaly but no pneumonia. An echocardiogram showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction with an Ejection Fraction of 20% and dilated left ventricle. The treatment direction was switched from treating liver failure to targeting heart failure with intravenous diuretics. The patient’s mental status improved remarkably after three days of diuresis and the patient wa...