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What is Cirrhosis? |
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Symptoms
Cirrhosis is an ailment which causes irreparable scars on the liver. The presence of scar tissue interferes with the normal flow of blood through the liver, affecting its functions of blood detoxification, as well as the production of certain nutrients. It is very rare that physical symptoms appear at the onset of the disease, but as cirrhosis deteriorates liver functioning, the patient can feel fatigue, queasiness, an unexpected and abnormal weight loss, and swollenness of the legs and the midsection. Eventually, jaundice and severe itching develops. The patient’s digestive system may also suffer severe bleeding.
Causes
The liver performs numerous functions, and it has a particular tenacity against diseases – it regenerates itself. When cirrhosis occurs, instead of regenerating, some liver cells increase in size, thereby forming scar tissue. Although many of the other cells still regenerate, the overall pattern is quite abnormal. Cirrhosis is usually mentioned in the same breath as alcohol abuse, and it is true that the latter is a major cause of all cirrhosis cases; alcohol is made up of toxic chemicals which when broken down inflame and destroy liver cells. Cirrhosis may also be acquired through autoimmune and chronic hepatitis (type B and C), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, an inherited condition such as Wilson’s disease or cystic fibrosis, a continuous exposure to materials with toxic content such as alcohol, or with obstructions in the bile ducts.
Diagnosis
Since the condition rarely has symptoms early on, the physician may detect it while doing a routine medical exam. He can tell if the liver is inflamed or firm just by gently applying pressure on the midsection; this is an indication of liver disease. As cirrhosis develops though, the liver often shrinks, and the doctor has to confirm a suspicion with numerous diagnostic tests, such as liver blood tests, a bilirubin count, ultrasound imaging, a computerized tomography scan, through magnetic resonance imaging, or with a liver biopsy, wherein a sample tissue is obtained from the liver with the use of a fine cutting needle. The latter is a simple procedure which only requires a local anesthetic, but the doctor may opt for other methods if the patient has a bleeding problem or abdominal inflammation.
Treatment Info
Despite the irreparability of the damage which is caused by cirrhosis, treatment is still necessary to minimize the complications and inhibit further damage. Abstention from alcohol is the primary measure for alcoholic cirrhosis. If the patient has developed a dependence to the substance, treatment may include a rehabilitation program. Proper nutrition is also a key component of therapy since cirrhosis patients are commonly malnourished, so a high-calorie, high-nutrient diet is prescribed to aid the lever cells in regeneration. The doctor may also recommend measures to prevent any complication from occurring, such as the intake of blood pressure medicines for portal hypertension; medication or endoscopic surgery for bleeding blood vessels; avoidance of substances with alcoholic or saline content to encourage fluid retention; oral antihistamines and similar drugs for treating itching sensations; and in case liver failure occurs, the doctor may advise liver transplant as the best option.
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