Cirrhosis of the liver – the most common symptoms. How is cirrhosis of the liver treated?

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Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease. The disease leads to the formation of liver fibrosis and often irreversible changes in the parenchyma of this organ. Alcoholism, viral hepatitis, and other diseases can lead to cirrhosis of the liver. How is cirrhosis of the liver manifested? How to recognize the disease and how to treat it?

1. Although cirrhosis of the liver is often associated with alcoholism, the condition may also result from, among other things, Hepatitis B and hepatitis C
2. It happens that cirrhosis of the liver develops for unknown reasons, it is called cryptogenic cirrhosis
3. At first, cirrhosis of the liver may develop asymptomatically, and over time, symptoms of a general nature, skin symptoms, and complications, including life-threatening ones, appear
4. From the liver diet, you need to eliminate not only alcohol, but also bloating products, fats, coffee, tea, sweets and highly processed products
5. More information can be found on the Onet homepage.

Although cirrhosis of the liver is often associated with alcoholism, the condition can also be the result of diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, as well as other health problems. Sometimes it is also impossible to determine the cause of cirrhosis.

Treating cirrhosis of the liver is problematic because there is no way to reverse liver damage that has already developed. Therefore, the aim is to stop the disease’s progression, support its work and reduce the factors that affect it negatively. More serious cases may require a liver transplant.

1. chronic autoimmune hepatitis – the etiology of this disease is unknown, but its possible complication is, inter alia, just cirrhosis;
2. nonalcoholic steatohepatitis – nonalcoholic fatty liver disease can lead to this and some patients may develop cirrhosis of the liver;
3. α-1-antitrypsin deficiency;
4. sclerosing cholangitis – an autoimmune disease;
5. Wilson’s disease (lento-hepatic degeneration) – as a result of this genetic disorder, the patient develops neuropsychiatric disorders, as well as liver failure;
6. chronic Buddha-Chiari syndrome – this rare disease is also known as hepatic vein thrombosis;
7. haemochromatosis – a condition that causes an excessive accumulation of iron in the body, which in the later stages of the disease may cause serious liver symptoms.

Lecithin can protect the liver, so people at risk of cirrhosis should reach for 1200mg Lecithin – memory and MEMO concentration, which is currently available on Medonet Market at a promotional price.

See: Hepatologist – description of specialization, indications for a visit, methods of therapy

Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver

In the early stages cirrhosis of the liver may develop asymptomaticallyand over time, symptoms of a general nature, skin symptoms, and complications, including life-threatening ones, appear. Liver diseases are often asymptomatic in the initial stages, which may last for years. Some patients may experience mild but nonspecific symptoms at some point, including general fatigue, low-grade fever, and loss of appetite. It may also lead to weight loss with associated wasting of the limb muscles and pterygoid muscles in the craniofacial area.

Patients with cirrhosis of the liver may also show more characteristic signs of the disease, including skin symptoms:

1. jaundice – it may be evidenced by yellowing of the whites of the eyes, and with a significantly increased concentration of bilirubin, yellow also appears on the skin and mucous membranes;
2. spider veins on the skin – stellate hemangiomas can appear on the surface of the chest, as well as on the upper limbs or face;
3. palmar erythema – occurs on the inside of the palms, also referred to as hepatic palms;
4. erythema on the feet;
5. yellows;
6. telangiectasia;
7. itching of the skin;
8. whitish discoloration visible on the nails;
9. increased skin pigmentation.

In addition to the changes visible on the skin, the development of cirrhosis may be accompanied by:

1. ascites, i.e. enlargement of the abdominal circumference;
2. widening of the veins in the abdomen;
3. petechiae on the skin – spot and patchy;
4. bleeding from the gums and nose;
5. muscle spasms (painful);
6. Dupuytren’s contracture;
7. hair disorders – excess hair on the body in women, and loss of hair in the pubic area in men;
8. enlargement of the spleen;
9. change in the size of the liver – its reduction or enlargement;
10. discomfort in the area of ​​the right hypochondrium;
11. nausea, vomiting, flatulence;
12. the occurrence of bleeding in the upper gastrointestinal tract;
13. swelling of the salivary glands;
14. smoothing the surface of the tongue.

Symptoms of patients with cirrhosis are not uniform. Different symptoms may be more severe in individual patients, which also affects the likelihood of individual complications.

Among the laboratory tests, parameters such as prothrombin time, bilirubin, albumin and creatinine levels are important in the diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. Information on the activity of alkaline phosphatase, aminotransferases and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) is also useful. Imaging tests are also performed, especially abdominal Doppler ultrasound, which allows the evaluation of the portal circulation in the liver. Magnetic resonance imaging of the liver is also decisive and accurate.

Histopathological examination is considered the gold standard in the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, however, indications for a biopsy depend on a specific case. Sometimes the patient’s condition is a contraindication to liver biopsy, it also happens that the procedure is not necessary to differentiate the causes of cirrhosis or it is replaced by other methods, e.g. non-invasive liver elastography.

As for the fixing causes of cirrhosis of the liver, non-invasive tests for hepatitis B (HBsAg, anti-Hbc) and hepatitis C (anti-HCV) are helpful, as well as a lipidogram, tests for the presence of antibodies (anti-LKM-1, anti-nuclear, anti-mitochondrial, anti-smooth muscle), fasting glucose, ferritin, immunoglobulins, ceruloplasmin, α-1-antitrypsin, α-fetoprotein or transferrin saturation.

If a person with cirrhosis is suspected acute liver failure, additional diagnostic tests in such circumstances may include serological tests for cytomegalovirus, HBV, VZV, as well as viral hepatitis A or hepatitis E.

Also check: Liver examination – types and characteristics

Cirrhosis of the liver – complications

The patient may have various complications as a result of progressive cirrhosis. Belong to them:

1. Hepatic encephalopathy – in the course of this complication, the patient develops mental and neurological disorders, including abnormal states of consciousness (sleep disorders, apathy, disorientation, confusion, and even hepatic coma), slowing of intellectual functions, as well as behavioral disorders, anxiety reactions or delusions ; symptomatic encephalopathy adversely affects the patient’s prognosis, as it may indicate decompensation of liver function;
2. ascites – in the course of liver cirrhosis, this complication is the result of portal hypertension; the ailment can lead to the development of a hernia, bacterial peritonitis, and also to cardio-respiratory failure;
3. esophageal varices – one of the consequences of the appearance of collateral circulation; varicose veins can cause hemorrhages, problems with drug metabolism and absorption, as well as eating disorders; there is also the likelihood of varicose veins in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract;
4. congestive splenomegaly – congestive enlargement of the spleen, which may be accompanied by hypersplenism, and thus the destruction of blood cells by the spleen;
5. gastropathy, enteropathy and portal colopathy – these are pathological conditions leading to bleeding from the mucous membranes of the gastrointestinal tract;
6. hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) – is characterized by hypoxemia, i.e. a reduction in the oxygen tension in the blood, arterial; signs of this syndrome include club fingers, cyanosis, and shortness of breath;
7. hepatorenal syndrome – is one of the most dangerous complications of liver cirrhosis, with oliguria and kidney failure appearing in its course, and the prognosis is unfavorable; patients with hepatorenal syndrome develop end-stage liver disease, and liver transplantation is an effective treatment for the syndrome;
8. cholestasis – pathological cholestasis;
9. lowering the efficiency of the immune system – leading to greater susceptibility to infections;
10. wasting the body;
11. hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) – this cancer can develop as a result of cirrhosis of the liver and is one of its most serious complications.

In the case of advanced liver cirrhosis, the damage to this organ is irreversible, and often so serious that life-threatening complications occur, including sepsis or bleeding from esophageal varices.

Cirrhosis of the liver – treatment

Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver is based on slowing down the progression of the disease, supporting the functioning of the liver, eliminating the factors causing the development of cirrhosis (e.g. alcohol, harmful drugs), introducing an appropriate diet, and treating complications of the disease. It is not possible to cure liver cirrhosis completely, but in some cases (in the earlier stages of the disease) it can be partially controlled or the effect of regression of fibrosis can be achieved.

In the case of liver cirrhosis, use the prickly pear flower in the form of organic tea. It has anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. You can buy green tea with prickly pear in a set with chicory root coffee and tea supporting the work of the liver. The liver kit is available from Medonet Market.

Pharmacotherapy used in cirrhosis is tailored individually to the patient’s condition and the factor causing the disease (e.g. alcohol, immune diseases, viral diseases). In the fight against fibrosis, anti-inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids, colchicine, IL-10, methotrexate, penicillamine, ursodeoxycholic acid), interferons, antioxidants, vitamin E, polynylphosphatidylcholine or silymarin.

It is extremely important too management of complications of cirrhosis. In the case of encephalopathy, steroids and symptomatic treatment are used in the form of an appropriate diet supplemented with B vitamins, vitamins C and K. When esophageal varices bleed, resuscitation, drug administration, endoscopy, portal systemic anastomosis or surgical intervention may be necessary. A timely response in the event of severe complications of liver disease associated with cirrhosis is essential to increase the patient’s chances of survival

To support the work of the liver and at the same time keep the whole body healthy, we recommend the Panaseus Supplement Kit for men, which contains such preparations as:

1. Formula for joints – a supplement that positively affects the joints
2. Safe movement – a supplement that improves the functioning of the locomotor system
3. Detox – a supplement for cleansing the body

Cirrhosis of the liver – prophylaxis

To reduce the risk of developing cirrhosis of the liver, first of all, you should pay attention to your lifestyle. In case of genetic predisposition, it is best to control the condition of the liver, and also avoid alcohol or consume it in moderate amounts (women> 20 g of alcohol a day, men> 60 g of alcohol a day).

In addition, it is worth paying attention to the medications taken, as well as vitamin A supplementation, the excess of which can lead to liver fibrosis.

Not only alcohol, but also bloating products, fats, coffee, tea, sweets and highly processed products need to be eliminated from the liver diet.