Certified Hospice and Palliative Assistant (CHPNA) Practice Test

Which of the following is NOT a symptom of end-stage liver disease?

1. Encephalopathy

2. Coagulopathy

3. Diabetes

4. Malnutrition

The correct answer is: Diabetes

In the context of end-stage liver disease, diabetes is not typically recognized as a direct symptom associated with this condition. End-stage liver disease encompasses a range of severe clinical manifestations resulting from liver failure, including complications like encephalopathy, coagulopathy, and malnutrition. Encephalopathy arises due to an accumulation of toxins in the blood that the failing liver can no longer clear, leading to altered mental status. Coagulopathy is linked to the liver’s diminished ability to produce clotting factors, resulting in bleeding tendencies. Malnutrition often occurs because of impaired nutrient absorption and changes in metabolism associated with liver dysfunction. In contrast, while individuals with liver disease may experience insulin resistance and glucose metabolism issues, these do not equate to diabetes as a standard symptom of end-stage liver disease. Consequently, diabetes is less definitively connected to the manifestations of end-stage liver disease compared to other listed symptoms.