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It is the characteristic breath of patients with severe liver parenchymal disease.
It smells like a mixture of rotten eggs and garlic.
The gas chromatography revealed that the main cause odor compound is dimethylsulfide.
Hepatic fetus is “a unique musty smell of breath and urine” that occurs in patients with portal hypertension of liver failure. It’s usually a late sign, and it doesn’t really have much clinical use.
In portal hypertension, there is reduced portal blood flow to the liver, and as a result, direct shunts occur between the portal and the systemic blood systems, bypassing the liver.
The hepatic fetus is believed to belong to a particular class of biological compounds called mercaptans that bypass the liver through these porto-systemic shunts.
Normally, the liver would chemically modify them into odorless compounds, but since it now has no opportunity to do so, mercaptans reach the lungs (and urine) largely unadulterated, and when breathed in (or urinated), they emit their odor. distinctive.
Hepatic fetus is a sign that your liver is having trouble doing the job of filtering toxic substances, usually due to severe liver disease.
As a result, sulfur substances end up in the bloodstream and can reach the lungs. When you breathe out, these substances give your breath a distinct smell.
You may also hear that hepatic fetus is known as “breath of the dead.” This is due to its association with severe liver disease, which can be fatal.
Causes of hepatic fetus
Hepatic fetus is associated with severe liver disease, causing scarring and poor functioning of your liver, it can even cause portal hypertension (increased blood pressure in the veins of the liver).
Portal hypertension makes it difficult for blood to flow through your liver, which is why it collects in the veins around you.
When blood doesn’t pass easily through your liver, the toxic substances that your liver typically filters out make their way to other parts of your body, including your lungs.
When this happens, you may smell traces of these substances when you breathe out. Dimethylsulfide is probably responsible for the characteristic odor of the hepatic fetus.
Symptoms of hepatic fetus
The main symptom of hepatic fetus is breath that smells like a combination of rotten eggs and garlic. Other people describe it as a slightly sweet smell.
Additional symptoms include:
- Confusion and disorientation.
- Easy bleeding.
- Yellow skin.
- Swollen legs
- Abdominal swelling
Diagnosis of hepatic fetus
When a patient has liver disease, such as chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis, the doctor will likely be able to diagnose hepatic fetus without any additional testing.
If the patient has symptoms of hepatic fetus but has not been diagnosed with liver disease, your doctor will likely start by asking a few questions about your medical history and lifestyle.
They may also order a blood test to check liver function.
If your doctor suspects that you may have portal hypertension, they may also use an ultrasound or CT scan to get a better view of the veins around your liver and detect portal hypertension.
The doctor may also perform a liver biopsy. This involves taking a small sample of tissue from your liver and looking at it under a microscope.
A liver biopsy allows your doctor to detect signs of liver disease or assess how well a particular treatment is working.
Treatment of hepatic fetus
Getting rid of hepatic fetus is based on treating the underlying liver disease.
This is often very difficult, as hepatic fetus often accompanies advanced liver disease.
While it may not be able to reverse liver damage, beta-blockers can help reduce portal hypertension and decrease further liver damage.
To further slow the progression of liver damage and manage complications, you may also need to make some lifestyle changes, including:
- Avoid alcohol.
- Consume less salt.
- Get regular exercise.
Your doctor will determine which treatment options would work best based on the stage of your liver disease and your overall health.
Outlook for people with hepatic fetus.
Hepatic fetus is a sign of advanced liver disease. While it is likely too late to reverse liver damage, certain medications and lifestyle changes can help relieve symptoms and lessen further damage.
Seeing the doctor as soon as possible is a solution to start making a plan and managing liver disease.
