Cirrhosis is a serious medical issue or complication of the Liver. It is seen as a change of the liver that results from damage. The normally smooth liver becomes a chronic problem that can lead to nodule formation and fibrosis of the Liver.
This can be a potentially serious medical condition that is generally unable to be reversed. It takes years of damage to the liver, often by a medical condtion that relates to the liver such as Hepatitis, Alcohol, and more. It is one of the top leading causes of death in the US about 1-2% of all deaths.
Cirrhosis can be divided into micronodular, macronodular, and mixed forms. This condtion may result in the liver to loose such functions as: Metabolism of nutrients, Bile production, Detoxification of blood, Along with other functions.
3 Main Clinical Features:
1.) Hepatic cell dysfunction
2.) Portosystemic shunting
3.) Portal hypertension
Causes of Cirrhosis:
– Alcoholic liver disease
– Hepatitis C
– Hepatitis B
– Autoimmune Hepatitis
– Primary and Secondary Bilary Cirrhosis
– Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
– Alpha 1-Antitypsin Deficiency
– Wilson’s Disease
– Hemochromatosis
– Drug induced liver disease
– Many others
Some of the Most Common Symptoms of Cirrhosis:
– Weakness
– Fatigue
– Weight loss
– Nausea
– Abdominal pain
– Enlarged liver (70%)
– Enlarged spleen fever
– Acities
– and others.
*** Varices are common finding with portal hypertension
How to Diagnosis Cirrhosis
1.) Doppler studies
2.) CT
3.) MRI
4.) Blood work
5.) Liver biopsy may be appropriate.
Treatment of Cirrhosis:
Treatment largely depends on the underlining cause. Treatment may help slow the progression.
– Stop consuming alcohol
– Diet change
– Loss of weight
– Diuretic: Spironolactone
– Paracentesis
– Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for variceal bleeding that has no improvement with tradition means (endoscopic band ligation or sclerotherapy)
– Antibiotics when necessary
– Liver Transplant