Cirrhosis of the liver is an advanced liver condition where healthy liver tissue gets replaced by scar tissue due to long-term liver inflammation, often caused by factors like alcohol, drugs, viruses, or metabolic issues. This scarring impairs the liver's function and can ultimately lead to chronic liver failure. It's a serious and irreversible condition resulting from prolonged liver damage.
Cirrhosis is a progressive liver condition that worsens over time due to the accumulation of scar tissue. Initially, your body compensates for reduced liver function, which is called compensated cirrhosis. However, as liver function declines further, noticeable symptoms develop, known as decompensated cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis is relatively common, particularly in middle-aged and older adults. In the United States, it affects approximately 0.25% of all adults and around 0.50% of adults aged 45 to 54. Each year, cirrhosis contributes to about 26,000 deaths in the United States, and these numbers are on the rise, making it a significant global health concern. over time due to the accumulation of scar tissue. Initially, your body compensates for reduced liver function, which is called compensated cirrhosis. However, as liver function declines further, noticeable symptoms develop, known as decompensated cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis impacts the liver by blocking blood and oxygen flow, slowing down blood processing, nutrient metabolism, and toxin removal. It also impairs the liver's ability to produce bile and essential blood proteins. Scar tissue can compress vital blood vessels, leading to portal hypertension.
Early Signs:
1. Nausea
2. Fatigue
3. Upper abdominal pain
4. Visible blood vessels (spider angiomas)
5. Redness on the palms of the hands (palmar erythema)
Advancing Cirrhosis Symptoms:
6. Jaundice (yellowing of skin and eyes)
7. Pruritus (itchy skin)
8. Dark-colored urine
9. Pale-colored stools
10. Digestive difficulties, especially with fats
11. Small yellow bumps of fat deposits on the skin or eyelids (xanthomas)
12. Unexplained weight loss and muscle loss
13. Hepatic encephalopathy (confusion, disorientation, mood changes)
14. Motor dysfunction (twitching, tremors, or lapses in muscle control)
15. Disruptions to the menstrual cycle (in women)
16. Enlarged breast tissue (gynecomastia) in males
These symptoms should prompt timely medical evaluation and care.
Cirrhosis results from chronic liver inflammation. Common causes include:
1. Chronic alcohol use
2. Excess fat in the liver (non-alcoholic steatohepatitis)
3. Chronic hepatitis C and B infections
Less common causes include autoimmune diseases, genetic disorders, toxic substances, and cardiovascular issues.
Healthcare providers approach cirrhosis treatment through:
1. Addressing the root cause with tailored medications.
2. Encouraging lifestyle changes, including alcohol cessation and healthy eating.
3. Managing complications like bleeding veins and ascites.
4. Considering liver transplantation for severe cases.
These strategies aim to manage cirrhosis, slow progression, and improve outcomes.
Liver cancer
Liver cancer can happen if you have cirrhosis (a liver condition with scarring). Not everyone with cirrhosis gets liver cancer, but it's more common in these cases. If you do get liver cancer with cirrhosis, your doctor might use treatments like radiation or chemotherapy. Sometimes, a full liver transplant is the best option.
A liver transplant is when you get a new liver. Doctors recommend it when your liver is failing, you have liver cancer, or treatments aren't working. If you qualify, you'll be put on a waiting list, and how urgently you need a new liver determines where you are on that list.
Prevention
As for preventing cirrhosis, catching liver problems early is key. Many people don't have symptoms in the beginning, so regular checkups with your doctor can help spot issues before cirrhosis develops. This early detection can lead to important lifestyle changes or medical help to stop cirrhosis from happening.
Once you have cirrhosis, your liver won't recover. However, it may not necessarily get worse if it's still in the compensated stage with minimal symptoms. If you can reduce the inflammation causing cirrhosis, it might not progress to the decompensated stage. But you'll need to protect your liver for the rest of your life.
Life expectancy
Life expectancy with cirrhosis varies widely, depending on factors like how advanced it is, any complications, treatment effectiveness, and your overall health. Healthcare providers use scoring systems to predict outcomes. In early compensated cirrhosis, life expectancy can exceed 15 years, but it decreases when complications like portal hypertension develop. Decompensated cirrhosis has an average life expectancy of seven years, though severe complications can shorten it to less than two years in some cases.
Cirrhosis can affect anyone for various reasons, not just alcohol. Early detection is crucial, and lifestyle changes and medications can help manage it. Liver transplantation is an option for those on the waiting list and can be life-saving.
By Andrew Anongu, DailyHealth
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