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Viral cirrhosis of the liver – This is a chronic disease in which an organ is damaged with the replacement of healthy tissue with fibrous fibers and the death of functional cells – hepatocytes. The etiology of the pathological process lies in a viral infection.
Statistics indicate that in 55% of all cases of the formation of the disease, the cause is viral hepatitis. The share of hepatitis C, which has a high degree of activity, accounts for 21% of all patients with cirrhosis. However, hepatitis A, B and D viruses also pose a danger. In addition, modern scientists have identified hepatitis G, which also leads to a chronic destructive process in the liver and the development of cirrhosis.
Most often, people of young and middle age are susceptible to the disease, in most cases they are males.
Despite the fact that the disease is caused by different types of viruses, the clinical picture looks quite the same.
Among the main symptoms:
Past or current hepatitis virus;
Complaints about the occurrence of a feeling of weakness, increased fatigue, decreased performance;
The appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium;
Nausea, sometimes interspersed with vomiting;
Gastrointestinal disorders: bitter taste in the mouth, diarrhea and constipation, increased gas formation, loss of appetite;
Decrease in body weight;
The development of mild jaundice;
Increased bleeding gums, nosebleeds;
Pain in the joints;
Varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach. Doctors with viral cirrhosis observe this symptom much earlier than with alcohol. However, ascites, as a complication of the disease, is formed, on the contrary, less frequently.
As the pathological process develops and the damaged liver tissues die, the symptoms increase. Internal bleeding may open, feces acquire a light shade, and urine, on the contrary, darkens. The pain intensifies, the body temperature is kept at high levels. On average, the life expectancy of a patient after diagnosis is 8-12 years.
The cause of the development of the disease is infection of the body with one or another hepatitis virus. They, in turn, begin to damage hepatocytes, thereby causing an inflammatory reaction and the formation of an autoimmune response. As a result, the body begins to perceive liver cells damaged by hepatitis as foreign, and seeks to actively destroy them. Necrosis grows, and the body ceases to cope with the functions assigned to it. In addition, the hepatitis C and D viruses themselves have a destructive and toxic effect on liver tissue.
Among the risk factors for developing the disease:
Use of non-sterile syringes for injection;
The fact of transfusion of infected blood;
Unprotected sexual contact;
Non-compliance with the rules of personal hygiene (using someone else’s scissors, toothbrush, etc.);
Possibility of intrauterine infection.
In addition to hepatitis viruses, such viruses as the herpes virus, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and others lead to the development of cirrhosis, although extremely rarely. They account for up to 5% of all viral cirrhosis.
The following medications are used for treatment:
Drugs that fight the virus: Pegasys, Copegus, Interferon, Inron, Laferon in combination with Lamivudine (for hepatitis B virus) or in combination with Ribavirin (for hepatitis C virus);
Drug-hepatoprotector: Essentiale Forte N (in the absence of cholestasis), Glutargin, Ursosan, Ursofalk, Sirepar, Legalon, Karsil and others. More about hepatoprotectors used in liver cirrhosis;
Detoxifiers: Reosorbilact, Ringer’s solution;
Preparation-sorbent: Smecta, activated or white charcoal;
Enzymes: Pancreatin, Mezim, Creon, Enzystal;
Diuretics: Furosemide, Diakarb, Trifas, spironolactones, etc.;
Means that help reduce pressure in the portal vein: Anaprilin, Nitrosorbide, etc.;
With a decrease in protein levels and the development of edema appoint albumin;
Vitamins and trace elements with antioxidant action: Alvitil, Unicap, Tocopherol, Namacyt, Triovit;
Drugs that can remove intoxication from the liver: Ornicetil, Citrarginine.
If it is not possible to stop the progression of cirrhosis with the use of medications, the only option is surgery, namely liver transplantation.
In addition, the patient must refuse to take alcoholic beverages and follow a certain dietary diet. The ban includes fatty meats and fish, legumes, mushrooms, canned food and sausages, carbonated drinks and juices. It is allowed to include in the daily menu light soups with vegetable broth, lean meat, vegetables and fruits that have undergone heat treatment, egg white, dried bread. If it is possible to achieve a stable remission, then the patient’s menu can be somewhat diversified.
To prevent the development of the disease under the power of any healthy person, it is enough just to adhere to simple preventive measures, including:
Strict observance of the rules of personal hygiene;
Refusal of bad habits, in particular, from the use of alcohol and drugs;
Use of disposable medical instruments and equipment;
Use of personal cosmetics and devices for intimate hygiene;
Condom-protected intercourse.
This will avoid infection with viral hepatitis, which means preventing the development of the disease and its complications, including liver cancer, internal bleeding, hepatic coma, liver failure, peritonitis and many others. The prognosis of the course of viral cirrhosis is largely determined by the adequacy of the therapy, the stage of the disease and the patient’s lifestyle.