Dorothy FarrarCirrhosis of the liver (shrunken liver)
Cirrhosis of the liver (shrunken liver, liver shrinkage) is a constant destruction of the liver tissue, as a result of which the liver hardens, scars, and finally shrinks. For this reason, the disease is also often referred to as shrunken liver.
What is cirrhosis of the liver (shrunken liver)?
Cirrhosis of the liver, popularly referred to as shrunken liver, is a serious disease that results in destruction of the liver. If this is already well advanced, cirrhosis of the liver can even be life-threatening. Men are affected by this condition far more often than women. The reason is probably the generally higher and excessive alcohol consumption of men compared to women.
The disease is so dangerous because, basically, it can not be cured – once the liver is destroyed, the tissue can not be restored.
Causes
The main trigger for cirrhosis of the liver (shrunken liver) is generally considered to be excessive alcohol consumption. This can lead to cirrhosis of the liver – but this is a rather lengthy process that does not happen overnight.In more than half of all cases of cirrhosis of the liver, alcohol is the main trigger. But other causes are also possible for the disease liver cirrhosis. Inflammation of the liver such as hepatitis B or hepatitis C can also lead to cirrhosis of the liver – these diseases are usually triggered by viruses.
Likewise, the liver can also be damaged by certain drugs or chemicals. In some rare cases, various tropical diseases such as cholera can also trigger liver cirrhosis.
Symptoms and course
Possible signs of cirrhosis of the liver:
- Glossy lips
- Glossy tongue
The symptoms of this disease are quite different – some patients do not feel any discomfort at all. If this is the case, one speaks of a latent cirrhosis of the liver. Quite typical, however, are lack of concentration and a general fatigue. A feeling of pressure or fullness in the upper abdomen are also common symptoms of liver cirrhosis.
Also characteristic are the so-called liver membrane signs – these are red vascular nodules.
In addition, it can lead to shiny lips and a shiny tongue, also referred to as lacquer lips or lacquer tongue. Also a significant weight loss and associated a thinning skin characterize the disease liver cirrhosis.
In men, a reduced potency is also quite typical, while in women it often comes to disorders of the menstrual period. A yellowing of the iris, on the other hand, can usually not yet be recognized in cirrhosis of the liver – this symptom usually occurs only with a complete destruction of the liver.
The course of cirrhosis of the liver depends on how far the disease has already progressed. Even if only 15 percent of the liver is still well preserved, the liver can continue to perform its functions. If cirrhosis of the liver remains untreated, the function of the organ decreases steadily.
Diagnosis
Since cirrhosis of the liver initially causes hardly any symptoms, the disease is often only diagnosed at an advanced stage. In order to unequivocally diagnose cirrhosis of the liver, the doctor must know the exact lifestyle of the patient.
Scanning of the liver and spleen as well as a blood analysis (analysis of the liver values) and ultrasound examination (sonography) also provide information about the course of the disease. Advanced liver cirrhosis is characterized by a reduced and hardened organ.
According to the so-called Child-Pugh classification, liver cirrhosis is divided into different stages. Depending on the classification, the severity and progression of the disease can be determined.
In addition, a laparoscopy can be used for special diagnostics.
If liver cirrhosis cannot be clearly identified, a liver biopsy (tissue sample) is necessary. With this diagnostic method, the liver is punctured with needles (liver puncture) – this allows the doctor treating you to take samples of the tissue and clearly diagnose cirrhosis of the liver.
Complications
The complications associated with liver cirrhosis are diverse. Many of them are classified as threatening. The complications are often the result of liver failure, which in turn can be considered a complication of cirrhosis. For example, the most common complication is vomiting blood due to pathological changes and tears in and on the portal vein. In addition, ascites often develops and is associated with bacterial infections in the abdomen.
While the spleen swells in most of those affected, weight loss can be observed in the later course of liver cirrhosis – from the stage of loss of function. In addition, there are deficiency symptoms due to the lack of nutrients, which is caused by the disturbed metabolism. The tendency to bleed can sometimes be greatly increased. Cirrhosis itself increases the risk of tumors by changing the tissue. In addition, accumulating cell toxins and metabolic toxins ensure that the kidneys are also affected. Kidney failure can result from liver failure due to cirrhosis.
The immune system of patients with liver damage is sometimes severely weakened because important proteins are metabolized in the liver. Overall, infections can take a severe course. If the liver is no longer able to metabolize ammonia sufficiently, edema sometimes occurs. Edema in the brain can cause hepatic encephalopathy. A coma can also occur in this context.
treatment and therapy
Appropriate therapy can counteract the progression of liver cirrhosis. This applies in particular to the early stages of the disease – damage to the liver tissue that has already occurred remains largely irreversibly (non-reversibly) destroyed.If medication, alcohol or toxic substances are the cause of cirrhosis of the liver, the first step in treatment is of course to stop using the respective substances immediately.
It is also important to ensure a healthy diet, although patients with liver cirrhosis should avoid protein . If a viral hepatitis disease is present, the inflammation must first be contained with the help of special medication.
If the electrolyte balance is disturbed, urine-promoting drugs (diuretics) can be administered. In particularly severe cases of liver cirrhosis (liver structure irreversibly destroyed), organ transplantation (liver transplantation) is often the last chance.
Prevention
The best way to prevent cirrhosis of the liver is to avoid alcohol if possible . Of course, a glass of beer or wine does not harm the liver, but drinking alcohol should not become a habit.
A healthy and balanced diet can also help to keep the liver and other organs healthy. Vaccination against hepatitis B should at best be done to protect against this trigger of liver cirrhosis.
Hello and welcome to my Health Guide & Encyclopedia! My name is Dorothy Farrar, and I'm the founder and main author of this platform.
My passion for health and wellness started at a young age when I became interested in the connection between the food we eat and the way we feel. This fascination led me to study nutrition and dietetics in college, where I learned about the importance of a balanced diet and the impact of various nutrients on the body.