Cirrhosis:
Cirrhosis is a complication of many liver diseases that is characterized by abnormal structure and function of the liver. The diseases that lead to cirrhosis do so because they injure and kill liver cells, and the inflammation and repair that is associated with the dying liver cells causes scar tissue to form. The liver cells that do not die multiply in an attempt to replace the cells that have died. This results in clusters of newly-formed liver cells (regenerative nodules) within the scar tissue. There are many causes of cirrhosis; they include chemicals (such as alcohol, fat, and certain medications), viruses, toxic metals (such as iron and copper that accumulate in the liver as a result of genetic diseases), and autoimmune liver disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the liver.
Major Causes Of Liver Cirrhosis:
- Chronic alcohol consumption – Consuming alcohol regularly causes the development of liver cirrhosis. This is the most important and common cause of liver cirrhosis. 30 % of the individuals who drink 8 to 14 ounces of alcholol ( hard drinks) for about 10-12 years can develop liver cirrhosis. In the beginning, it is fatty liver but slowly the fat keeps on accumulating over the liver cells and hampering their functions, suffocating them and more alcohol keeps on injuring them, leading to their death and scarring.
- Hepatitis A,B, C, D ,E , F ,G – Although hepatitis A has not been implicated as major reason for cirrhosis of the liver but more deadly hepatitis types like B, C and G are considered devastating for the liver. The virus can remain dormant for years but can attack anytime leading to fulminant hepatic failure. Treatment of hepatitis is very important to prevent cirrhosis at later stage. Hepatitis is one of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis.
- Too many drugs consumed for other diseases - for example for gout, for arthritis, for skin, for allergies and so on – people keep on consuming various drugs which are metabolized in liver but ignoring the burden on liver, they keep on popping pills and putting pressure on liver, causing liver cirrhosis.
- Non alcoholic fatty liver disease - This disease can be caused by metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and obesity. Obesity also puts a lot of burden on the liver and slowly causes cirrhosis.
- Cryptogenic Cirrhosis - It is one of the major reasons for liver transplant now a days. It is called cryptogenic cirrhosis as it is not explainable. The reasons are not known to current day medical science and tht’s why it is called cryptogenic. Usually it is due to long standing obesity, diabetes and insulin resistance.
- Primary biliary cirrhosis is a liver disease caused by disturbance of immune system, when the immune system starts attacking our own bile ducts in the lvier. The bile ducts carries the bile From liver to the intestine. This bile helps in digestion and contains bilirubin. If these bile duct is blocked due to certain reasons, the process of liver destruction starts. Slowly as the liver cells are being destroyed, the whole liver becomes inflamed and a process of hepatic cells damage starts leading to accumulate of waste products in the liver and causing more damage.
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Liver Cirrhosis?
- Weight loss and loss of appetite
- Weakness and fatigue
- Jaundice
- Accumulation of water in abdominal cavity called Ascites
- Encephalopathy
- Bleeding in esophagus due to backlog/ pooling of blood. Also called esophageal varices
- Redness of the palm.
- Duputryen’s contracture.
- Clubbing of the fingers
- Enlargement of parotid and lachrymal gland
- Red spidery patches on the skin.
- Spider naevi – around naval
- Decreased body hair
- Gynaecomastia in men
- Hirsuitism, menstrual abnormalities in females
- Enlarged spleen.
Treatments:
Cirrhosis is generally irreversible, and treatment usually focuses on preventing progression and complications. In advanced stages of cirrhosis the only option is a liver transplant.
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