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What is alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver?
Alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver – This is an extensive organ damage that develops against the background of prolonged intake of alcoholic beverages. The process is characterized by the death of liver cells and the replacement of its natural tissues with fibrous fibers with the formation of small scar nodules. As a result, the body ceases to function normally and cope with the tasks assigned to it.
As for statistics, the disease does not develop in all drinkers, but only in 10-30%, although it is chronic alcohol intoxication of the liver that causes 50% of the total number of liver cirrhosis. The disease usually manifests 10 or more years after the person began to abuse alcohol.
How long do people live with alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver?
Predicting how long a person with such a disease can live is quite problematic, since it depends on the state of the body as a whole, on the functioning of the immune system, on the presence of concomitant diseases, etc. However, the prognosis for alcoholic cirrhosis is the most favorable . This is especially true in cases where the disease was detected in the early stages, the person receives adequate treatment and adheres to a healthy lifestyle. Under such circumstances, the prognosis for survival for more than five years is significantly improved and about 60% of patients avoid an early death. If the patient continues to abuse, then the survival rate will be no more than five years. Only 40% of people do not die within the first five years after diagnosis, if they do not reconsider their attitude to alcohol.
The remaining hepatocytes are able to perform their function, despite the increased load on them. However, medication and other support (in the form of a diet and a healthy lifestyle) is simply necessary for liver cells.
Symptoms of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
The insidiousness of the disease lies in the fact that the symptoms occur imperceptibly for the patient himself. Until the moment of the first manifestations on the part of the damaged organ, five or more years may pass. Moreover, all this time, normal liver tissue will be replaced by connective tissue.
Among the signs of the disease can be noted:
Asthenic syndrome, which is expressed in increased weakness, severe drowsiness, decreased appetite, bad mood, low performance;
Pronounced weight loss;
Low systolic pressure, which does not exceed 100;
Formation of spider veins on the body and on the face;
Erythema of the skin of the feet and palms;
Men are characterized by the acquisition of feminine traits. This is expressed in the accumulation of fat deposits in the abdomen and hips and, at the same time, unnatural weight loss of the arms and legs. There is an increase in the mammary glands (gynecomastia), pubic hair loss, armpit baldness, a decrease in erectile function, up to impotence, as well as testicular atrophy;
Often a visible sign of cirrhosis is an increase in the salivary glands, doctors call this the “hamster symptom”;
Redness of the skin of the face due to the expansion of capillaries;
The appearance of bruises without the application of a pronounced force to the damaged area. Sometimes they form on their own, without previous skin injury. This is due to the weakness of small blood vessels;
Shortening of the palmar tendons, which is expressed in their curvature and the inability to perform a flexion function. This sign is called Dupuytren’s contracture;
The skin becomes yellow. A similar color acquires the oral cavity, eye sclera;
The appearance of small stripes on the nail plates (leukonychia);
Enlargement of the fingertips on the hands and rounding of the nail plates. Doctors call this striking sign “a symptom of drumsticks”;
Various disorders of the digestive system. In particular, patients suffer from nausea and vomiting, flatulence, and often experience rumbling in the abdomen. Often, patients reject food due to a decrease in appetite;
An increase in pressure in the portal vein can lead to the formation of ascites, splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen in size). In addition, patients complain of varicose veins in the legs. The same process affects the internal organs, veins in the navel, rectal veins and veins of the esophagus;
All muscles gradually lose mass and atrophy;
The patient experiences breathing problems: suffers from shortness of breath and cough;
Tachycardia and lesions of the cardiovascular system are often observed;
Temperature, as a rule, keeps on subfebrile marks;
If the patient refuses alcohol in a timely manner, the entire clinical picture undergoes significant changes in a positive direction.
Treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
A necessary condition for the treatment of this disease is a complete rejection of the use of alcohol. However, the therapeutic impact does not end there. The patient will necessarily need to adhere to a diet, most often doctors recommend table number 5.
Conservative treatment is reduced to taking medications:
The patient should receive hepatoprotectors that support not yet dead liver cells. These can be synthetic and plant hepatoprotectors, as well as essential phospholipids. Among the most popular means: Allohol, Phosphogliv, Karsil, Essentiale and others. More about hepatoprotectors used in liver cirrhosis;
Ademetionine preparations, for example, Heptral. It contributes to the protection of hepatocytes from destruction and stimulates their recovery, improves the outflow of bile, and produces an antidepressant effect;
Reception of vitamin complexes with the obligatory content of vitamins C, E, A, D. This is a prerequisite for maintaining normal life, since the absorption of all nutrients from food during cirrhosis is disturbed;
UDCA preparations, for example, Ursosan, Ursodez, Ursohol, which prevent the death of hepatocytes;
Glucocorticoids, which reduce inflammation, prevent the formation of scar tissue, prevent the immune system from producing proteins that are harmful to the liver. It is most expedient to use such means as Urbazon, Prednisolone, Metipred;
Drugs – angiotensin-excessive enzyme inhibitors and tissue protease inhibitors, which are aimed at preventing the formation of fibrous tissue.
In addition, prevention and treatment of complications of the disease is important. Among the most common are portal hypertension, ascites, splenomegaly, encephalopathy.
The terminal stage of the disease is the reason for surgical intervention. The only thing a doctor can do is a liver transplant. However, this is a complex operation that requires at least six months of preparation. If, after the transplant, the patient returns to the use of alcoholic beverages, this ultimately leads to death. According to statistics, up to 80% of sick people start drinking again.
To prevent the development of the disease, you just need to stop drinking alcohol and adhere to a proper balanced diet.
Can alcoholic cirrhosis be cured?
Despite the development of modern medicine, it is not possible to completely get rid of the disease today. The only option for complete healing is a healthy organ transplant from a donor. However, this procedure is very expensive and technically complex, so it is simply inaccessible to the majority of the population.
Nevertheless, the disease detected at an early stage and competent treatment under the guidance of a hepatologist can stop the destructive process and slow down the development of complications. But all currently existing hepatoprotective drugs can only protect existing hepatocytes from destruction, but they cannot restore dead cells. Although this fact is not a reason for refusing therapy. In addition, scientists are developing to create a drug that can cure patients with cirrhosis of the liver.
Diet for alcoholic cirrhosis of the liver
An integral element of the treatment of the disease is diet. The fulfillment of certain rules is necessary for life. They require the avoidance of fried, fatty and spicy foods, which will contribute to the production of digestive juices and bile. By removing such dishes from the menu, it will be possible to minimize the aggressive effect on the diseased organ.
However, the diet for patients with cirrhosis does not involve taking only mashed dishes on an ongoing basis; only coarse fiber and sinewy meat need to be chopped. Although during the exacerbation of the disease, most dishes still need to be brought to a puree state.
You will need to eat at least five times a day, the maximum number of kilocalories per day is 2900. The volume of fluid consumed is equal to 1,5 liters.
Mushroom, meat and fish broths, canned meats and sausages, fatty dairy products and spicy cheeses, hard-boiled eggs, legumes are under an absolute ban. It is not recommended to include white cabbage, radish, sorrel, green and onion, eggplant, dill, parsley, pickles, raw berries and fruits, as well as juices in the diet.
You can eat vegetarian soups with the addition of cereals and pasta. Useful cereals and slightly dried bread, biscuits. As for meat products, rabbit, turkey, beef, lean fish are allowed. Low-fat dairy products are acceptable, vegetable oil can be seasoned with salads.