Liver cirrhosis is a chronic disease. The disease leads to the formation of liver fibrosis and often irreversible changes in the parenchyma of this organ. Alcoholism, viral hepatitis, and other diseases can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. How is cirrhosis of the liver manifested? How to recognize the disease and how do you treat it?

• Although cirrhosis of the liver is often associated with alcoholism, the condition may also result from, among other things, Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
• It happens that cirrhosis of the liver develops for unknown reasons, it is called cryptogenic cirrhosis
• At first, cirrhosis of the liver may develop asymptomatically, and over time, general symptoms, skin symptoms, and complications, including life-threatening ones, appear
• Not only alcohol, but also bloating products, fats, coffee, tea, sweets and highly processed products need to be eliminated from the liver diet.

What is cirrhosis of the liver?

Cirrhosis of the liver is a serious condition that causesirreversible damage to the liver. The source of the problem is the fibrosis of the liver parenchyma, i.e. the process of scarring, i.e. the appearance of connective tissue, which more and more interferes with the proper functioning of the organ. Such a change in the structure of the liver causes a reduction in the efficiency of hepatic metabolism, the formation of portal hypertension, and in subsequent stages alsoliver failure.

Although cirrhosis of the liver is often associated withalcoholism, the condition can also be the result of diseases such ashepatitis Bandhepatitis C, as well as other health problems. Sometimes it is also impossible to establish the cause of cirrhosis.

Treating cirrhosis of the liver is problematic because there is no way to reverse liver damage that has already developed.Therefore, the aim is to stop the progression of the disease, support its work and reduce the negative factors affecting it. More serious cases may require a liver transplant.

IMPORTANT

Cirrhosis of the liver can be fatal for the patient. The greatest risk concerns people at an advanced stage of the disease and when complications that are dangerous to life, such as sepsis or hepatorenal syndrome, appear.

What are the causes of cirrhosis of the liver?

There are many factors that can lead to liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. These include viral, metabolic and autoimmune diseases, inflammation, alcohol and drug abuse. Possible causes of liver cirrhosis include:

1. alcohol abuse – one of the most common causes of liver cirrhosis;
2. abuseof hepatotoxic drugs, i.e. drugs that are toxic to the liver and cause damage to it;
3. hepatitis C – this disease caused by the HCV virus is one of the most common causes of liver cirrhosis, next to alcoholism;
4. hepatitis B;

1. chronic autoimmune hepatitis – the etiology of this disease is unknown, but its possible complication is, inter alia, just cirrhosis;
2. nonalcoholic steatohepatitis – this can be caused bynonalcoholic fatty liver diseaseand some patients may develop cirrhosis of the liver;
3. α-1-antitrypsin deficiency;
4. sclerosing cholangitis – an autoimmune disease;
5. Wilson’s disease(lento-hepatic degeneration) – as a result of this genetic disorder, the patient develops neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as liver failure;
6. chronicBuddha-Chiari syndrome– this rare disease is also known as hepatic vein thrombosis;
7. haemochromatosis– a condition that causes an excessive accumulation of iron in the body, which in the later stages of the disease may cause serious liver symptoms.

Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver

In the initial stage, cirrhosis of the liver may develop asymptomatically, and over time general symptoms, skin symptoms, and complications, including life-threatening ones, appear. Liver diseases are often asymptomatic in the initial stages, which may last for years. Some patients may experience mild but nonspecific symptoms at some point, including generalfatigue, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite. It may also lead to weight loss with associated wasting of the limb muscles and pterygoid muscles in the craniofacial area.

Severe symptoms of cirrhosis appear when the disease is already in an advanced stage of development.

Patients with cirrhosis may also develop more specific signs of the disease, includingskin symptoms:

1. jaundice – it may be evidenced by yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and with a significantly increased concentration of bilirubin, yellow also appears on the skin and mucous membranes;
2. spider veins on the skin – stellate hemangiomas can appear on the surface of the chest, as well as on the upper limbs or face;
3. palmar erythema – occurs on their inner side, also referred to as liver palms;
4. erythema on the feet;
5. yellows;
6. telangiectasia;
7. itching of the skin;
8. whitish discoloration visible on the nails;
9. increased skin pigmentation.

In addition to the changes visible on the skin, the development of cirrhosis may be accompanied by:

1. ascites, i.e. enlargement of the abdominal circumference;
2. widening of the veins in the abdomen;
3. petechiae on the skin – spot and patchy;
4. bleeding from the gums and nose;
5. muscle spasms (painful);
6. Dupuytren’s contracture;
7. hair disorders – excess hair on the body in women, and loss of hair in the pubic area in men;
8. enlargement of the spleen;
9. change in the size of the liver – its reduction or enlargement;
10. discomfort in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium;
11. nausea, vomiting, flatulence;
12. the occurrence of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
13. swelling of the salivary glands;
14. smoothing the surface of the tongue.

The symptoms of patients with cirrhosis are not uniform. Different symptoms may be more severe in individual patients, which also affects the likelihood of individual complications.

What is the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver?

In the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, it is important to take into account the patient’s symptoms, as well as laboratory tests, imaging tests and tests to determine the liver efficiency. If cirrhosis is confirmed or it is necessary to differentiate it from other diseases (e.g. in the case of concomitant liver diseases), a liver biopsy is also performed to assess the advancement of the lesions.

Among the laboratory tests, in the context of the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis, parameters such asprothrombin time,bilirubin,albuminandcreatinine levelsare important . Information on the activity of alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) is also useful. Imaging tests are also performed, especially abdominalDoppler ultrasound, which allows the evaluation of the portal circulation in the liver.Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver is also decisive and accurate.

In the blood count of people with cirrhosis, a decrease in the level of leukocytes and platelets is observed.

Histopathological examination is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, however, indications for a biopsy depend on a specific case. Sometimes the patient’s condition is a contraindication toliver biopsy, it also happens that the procedure is not necessary to differentiate the causes of cirrhosis or it is replaced by other methods, e.g. non-invasive liver elastography.

When it comes to determining thecauses of liver cirrhosis, non-invasive tests for hepatitis B (HBsAg, anti-Hbc) and hepatitis C (anti-HCV) are helpful, as well as a lipidogram, tests for the presence of antibodies (anti-LKM-1, antinuclear, anti-mitochondrial , against smooth muscle), fasting glucose,ferritin,immunoglobulins,ceruloplasmin, α-1-antitrypsin, α-fetoprotein or transferrin saturation.

If acute liver failureis suspected in a person with cirrhosis , additional diagnostic tests in such circumstances may include serological tests for cytomegalovirus, HBV, VZV, as well ashepatitis Aorhepatitis Eviruses .

Cirrhosis of the liver – complications

The patient may have various complications as a result of progressive cirrhosis. Belong to them:

1. Hepatic encephalopathy– in the course of this complication, the patient develops mental and neurological disorders, including abnormal states of consciousness (sleep disorders, apathy, disorientation, confusion, and even hepatic coma), slowing of intellectual functions, as well as behavioral disorders, anxiety reactions or delusions ; symptomatic encephalopathy adversely affects the patient’s prognosis, as it may indicate decompensation of liver function;
2. ascites – in the course of liver cirrhosis, this complication is the result of portal hypertension; the ailment can lead to the development of a hernia, bacterial peritonitis, and also to cardiopulmonary failure;
3. esophageal varices– one of the consequences of the appearance of collateral circulation; varicose veins can cause hemorrhages, problems with drug metabolism and absorption, as well as eating disorders; there is also the likelihood of varicose veins in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract;
4. congestive splenomegaly – congestive enlargement of the spleen, which may be accompanied by hypersplenism, and thus the destruction of blood cells by the spleen;
5. gastropathy, enteropathy and portal colopathy – these are pathological conditions leading to bleeding from the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract;
6. hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS)– characterized by hypoxemia, that is, a reduction in the oxygen tension in the blood, arterial; signs of this syndrome include club fingers, cyanosis, and shortness of breath;
7. hepatorenal syndrome– one of the most dangerous complications of liver cirrhosis, oliguria and renal failure appear in its course, and the prognosis becomes unfavorable; patients with hepatorenal syndrome develop end-stage liver disease and liver transplantation is an effective treatment for the syndrome;
8. cholestasis– pathological cholestasis;
9. lowering the efficiency of the immune system – leading to greater susceptibility to infections;
10. wasting of the body;
11. hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) – this cancer can develop as a result of cirrhosis of the liver and is one of its most serious complications.

In the case of advanced liver cirrhosis, the damage to this organ is irreversible, and often so serious that life-threatening complications occur, includingsepsisor bleeding from esophageal varices.

Cirrhosis of the liver – treatment

Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver is based on slowing down the progression of the disease, supporting the functioning of the liver, eliminating the factors causing the development of cirrhosis (e.g. alcohol, harmful drugs), introducing an appropriate diet, and treating complications of the disease. It is not possible to cure liver cirrhosis completely, but in some cases (in the earlier stages of the disease) it can be partially controlled or the effect of regression of fibrosis can be achieved.

In the case of liver cirrhosis, useprickly pear flowerin the form of organic tea. It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. You can buy green tea with prickly pear in a set with chicory root coffee and tea supporting the work of the liver.The liver kitis available from Medonet Market.

Pharmacotherapy used in cirrhosis is tailored individually to the patient’s condition and the factor causing the disease (e.g. alcohol, immune diseases, viral diseases). In the fight against fibrosis, anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids, colchicine, IL-10,methotrexate, penicillamine, ursodeoxycholic acid),interferons, antioxidants, vitamin E, polynylphosphatidylcholine orsilymarin.

It is also extremely important tomanage complications of cirrhosis. In the case of encephalopathy, steroids and symptomatic treatment are used in the form of an appropriate diet supplemented with B vitamins, vitamins C and K. When esophageal varices bleed, resuscitation, drug administration,endoscopy, portal systemic anastomosis or surgical intervention may be necessary. A timely response in the event of severe complications of liver disease associated with cirrhosis is essential to increase the patient’s chances of survival

IMPORTANT

Liver transplant is the only treatment foradvanced cirrhosis .The patient’s prognosis is not favorable, because without transplantation, the survival time ranges from a few weeks to several months. Therefore, it is very important to inhibit progressive fibrosis in the earlier stages of the disease.

To support the work of the liver and at the same time keep the whole body healthy, we recommendthe Panaseus Supplement Kit for Men, which contains such preparations as:

1. Formula for joints – a supplement that positively affects the joints
2. Safe movement – a supplement that improves the functioning of the locomotor system
3. Detox – a supplement for cleansing the body

Cirrhosis of the liver – can the disease, if left untreated, lead to the death of the patient?

With cirrhosis, which led to a complete organ change, the risk of deterioration of the patient’s condition increases, which can lead to death. To stabilize the work of the organ, the most important thing is treatment. However, it should be remembered that in the case of advanced cirrhosis of the liver, a complete recovery is not possible. The patient must be under constant medical care.

Cirrhosis of the liver – prophylaxis

In order to reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, the first thing you should pay attention to is your lifestyle. In case of genetic predisposition, it is best to control the condition of the liver, and also avoid alcohol or consume it in moderate amounts (women> 20 g of alcohol a day, men> 60 g of alcohol a day).

In addition, it is worth paying attention to the medications taken, as well asvitamin Asupplementation , the excess of which can lead to liver fibrosis.

What should the diet for cirrhosis look like?

Comprehensive treatment of liver cirrhosis also involves changes in the diet. During the day, the patient may eat 5-6 smaller meals containing ingredients that will not burden the damaged organ. These include lean fish, lean dairy products, vegetables, and ripe fruit.

Not only alcohol, but also bloating products, fats, coffee, tea, sweets and highly processed products need to be eliminated from the liver diet.