What is Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver condition characterized by scarring and damage to the liver tissue. It is the advanced stage of various liver diseases, where healthy liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissue, resulting in progressive loss of liver function.
How does it happen?
Cirrhosis occurs as a result of continuous damage to the liver over time, usually due to conditions such as chronic hepatitis, excessive alcohol consumption, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and autoimmune diseases. This damage leads to persistent inflammation, scarring, and nodule formation in the liver, compromising its ability to function properly. As fibrosis progresses, liver function is compromised, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, jaundice, abdominal swelling, and clotting problems.
What are the symptoms?
The symptoms of cirrhosis can vary from person to person, but the most common include fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea, abdominal swelling, jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), itching, mental confusion, and easy bleeding.
How is the diagnosis made?
The diagnosis of cirrhosis involves a combination of medical history, physical examination, blood tests to assess liver function, imaging tests such as ultrasound, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, and in some cases, a liver biopsy to confirm the presence of scarring and assess the extent of the disease.
How is the treatment done?
The treatment of cirrhosis aims to slow the progression of the disease, relieve symptoms, and treat complications. Treatment options may include:
- Treatment of the underlying cause: If cirrhosis is caused by viral hepatitis, excessive alcohol consumption, or another specific condition, it is important to treat the underlying cause to prevent further liver damage.
- Lifestyle changes: This may include abstaining from alcohol, adhering to a liver-healthy diet, weight loss, blood pressure control, and diabetes treatment.
- Medications: Depending on the underlying cause of cirrhosis, medications may be prescribed to treat specific conditions, such as viral hepatitis or fatty liver disease.
- Management of complications: In advanced cases, complications such as ascites (fluid accumulation in the abdomen), hepatic encephalopathy (brain damage due to the accumulation of toxins in the blood), and esophageal varices (dilated veins in the esophagus) may occur. These complications require specific treatments for symptom relief and prevention of serious complications.
- Liver transplant: In advanced stages of cirrhosis, when liver function is severely compromised, a liver transplant may be considered as a treatment option.
Conclusion
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver condition characterized by scarring and progressive damage to the liver tissue. It is important to seek early diagnosis and treatment to slow the progression of the disease and minimize complications. Lifestyle changes, treatment of the underlying cause, and in advanced cases, liver transplantation are treatment options to be considered. Consulting a specialist doctor is crucial for an appropriate care plan.