Asterixis
| Asterixis | ||
| ICD-10 | R27.8 | |
|---|---|---|
| ICD-9 | 781.3 | |
| DiseasesDB | 33950 | |
| MeSH | C10.597.350 | |
|
WikiDoc Resources for Asterixis |
|
Articles |
|---|
|
Most recent articles on Asterixis |
|
Media |
|
Evidence Based Medicine |
|
Clinical Trials |
|
Ongoing Trials on Asterixis at Clinical Trials.gov Clinical Trials on Asterixis at Google
|
|
Guidelines / Policies / Govt |
|
US National Guidelines Clearinghouse on Asterixis
|
|
Books |
|
News |
|
Commentary |
|
Definitions |
|
Patient Resources / Community |
|
Patient resources on Asterixis Discussion groups on Asterixis Directions to Hospitals Treating Asterixis Risk calculators and risk factors for Asterixis
|
|
Healthcare Provider Resources |
|
Causes & Risk Factors for Asterixis |
|
Continuing Medical Education (CME) |
|
International |
|
|
|
Business |
|
Experimental / Informatics |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Synonyms and keywords: Flapping tremor
Overview
Asterixis (Greek a, not + stērixis, fixed position) is a flapping tremor of the wrist upon extension (dorsiflexion), sometimes said to resemble a bird flapping its wings. Also called liver flap, it can be a sign of hepatic encephalopathy (damage to brain cells due to the inability of the liver to metabolize ammonia to urea). The exact cause is not known, but it is thought to be related to abnormal ammonia metabolism.
Adams and Foley first described asterixis in 1949 in patients with severe liver failure and encephalopathy.[1] In general, there are brief, arrhythmic interruptions of sustained voluntary muscle contraction causing brief lapses of posture, with a frequency of 3-5 Hz. It is bilateral, but may be asymmetrical. Asterixis is seen most often in drowsy or stuporous patients with metabolic encephalopathies, especially in decompensated cirrhosis or acute hepatic failure. It is also seen in some patients with renal failure and azotemia, and in carbon dioxide toxicity. Asterixis can also be a feature of Wilson's disease.
Causes
Life Threatening Causes
Common Causes
Causes by Organ System
| Cardiovascular | No underlying causes |
| Chemical/Poisoning | No underlying causes |
| Dental | No underlying causes |
| Dermatologic | No underlying causes |
| Drug Side Effect | Ceftazidime |
| Ear Nose Throat | No underlying causes |
| Endocrine | No underlying causes |
| Environmental | No underlying causes |
| Gastroenterologic | No underlying causes |
| Genetic | No underlying causes |
| Hematologic | No underlying causes |
| Iatrogenic | No underlying causes |
| Infectious Disease | No underlying causes |
| Musculoskeletal/Orthopedic | No underlying causes |
| Neurologic | No underlying causes |
| Nutritional/Metabolic | No underlying causes |
| Obstetric/Gynecologic | No underlying causes |
| Oncologic | No underlying causes |
| Ophthalmologic | No underlying causes |
| Overdose/Toxicity | No underlying causes |
| Psychiatric | No underlying causes |
| Pulmonary | No underlying causes |
| Renal/Electrolyte | No underlying causes |
| Rheumatology/Immunology/Allergy | No underlying causes |
| Sexual | No underlying causes |
| Trauma | No underlying causes |
| Urologic | No underlying causes |
| Miscellaneous | No underlying causes |
Causes in Alphabetical Order
References
- ↑ Adams RD, Foley JM. The neurological changes in the more common types of severe liver disease. Trans American Neurology Association 1949; 74: 217-219.