Liver cirrhosis is a chronic, widespread, progressive liver inflammation that progresses with loss of normal healthy tissue of the liver, replacement of normal tissue by the tissue called connective tissue, deterioration of the structure, deterioration of the vascular structure. Liver cirrhosis is a fatal disease.
Causes of Liver Cirrhosis
The causes of the disease vary according to socio-economic and cultural differences. In some countries, the most important cause of illness is alcohol. In the Far East, the Middle East and our country, the most important cause is viral hepatitis. The incidence of hepatitis B is higher than hepatitis C. In some patients, autoimmune diseases, toxic substances and drugs, metabolic diseases (such as iron storage), diseases such as heart failure with blood pooling in the liver and diseases whose cause cannot be determined are the cause of the event.
Signs and Symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis is a serious disease that can be seen at any age. The incidence is higher in male patients. The disease has two clinical phases called compensated and decompensated. In the compensated period, the clinic is insidious. The decompensated period is the period in which the disease progresses and specific findings are seen. In the insidious period, only 20-30% of the cases can be diagnosed.
Evaluations made for different reasons in the compensated period often enable the disease to be noticed. In this period, weakness, fatigue, digestive difficulties, bloating, pain in the cavity, sometimes jaundice and liver – spleen enlargement occur. Liver function tests may be slightly elevated in blood tests. The compensated period can last for months or years. Decompensated period may occur with signs of liver failure or increased intra-abdominal vascular pressure. These are skin discoloration, staining, nail changes, breast enlargement in men, bleeding conditions such as nosebleeds, sexual dysfunction, jaundice, abdominal swelling, unconsciousness.
Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis
Treatment of the disease varies according to the cause of the disease. The follow-up of viral hepatitis and its treatment when indication occurs, and limiting the amount of alcohol consumed will eliminate the two most important reasons. Regardless of the cause, when the disease enters the decompensated period, the only treatment method is liver transplantation.
