Medical Questions » Liver and Gall Bladder Questions » Question No. 586
| Question: | Following an extensive liver resection for metastatic cancer my husband developed intense itching all over but there is no sign of a rash. What could cause this? |
| Answer: | The liver is an extraordinarily complex organ that is responsible for the production of many of the body' s essential chemicals and enzymes, and for removing waste products from the blood stream. Any surgery to the liver may interfere with these processes, and metastatic deposits of cancer may also have an effect.
If any one of the hundreds of substances produced in the liver is being manufactured in excess, or in insufficient quantities, there may be a minor imbalance in the body' s metabolism. The same applies if one particular waste product is not being removed efficiently. Either problem can lead to a wide variety of" symptoms, one of which could easily be an itch.
Identifying the chemical imbalance can be very difficult or impossible, as it may be an interaction between two or more different substances. If nothing obvious is found on routine investigation, it is often just a matter of time while your husband waits for the liver to repair itself (which it usually does).
In the meantime, there are medications that can be prescribed by your general practitioner to ease the itch and discomfort. You should discuss the various options further with him/her.
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