Liver cirrhosis is the end stage of liver diseases and damage caused by external factors like chronic alcoholism. It’s characterized by the presence of scar tissue that forms when cells are damaged and those that remain multiply in an attempt to make up for the loss. However, this creates a scar tissue that fails to maintain the close relationship provided by the original, unscarred cells. Here is a look at how to manage or treat liver cirrhosis.
Treatment Goals
If caught early, liver cirrhosis can be halted, but there is no cure or reversal. Generally, if cirrhosis is detected early, it is through routine blood work—as it can take years for symptoms present themselves. Medical treatment ultimately entails the treatment of the primary issue; whether it’s a liver disease (like hepatitis B or C, cystic fibrosis, or Alagille syndrome), a genetic predisposition, iron buildup, or chronic alcoholism or drug abuse. A number of alternative treatment options that may help symptomatically are successful for many patients with few options.
Primary Issue Treatment
Treatment varies widely depending upon the underlying cause of cirrhosis of the liver. Chronic alcoholism may require counseling or support groups. Hepatic viral infections and other diseases may be managed or sometimes even cured by specific pharmaceutical treatment plans. In some cases, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver, simply eating a proper diet and getting adequate exercise to lose weight and become healthier overall can be sufficient.
Complication Treatment
Since the reversal of cirrhosis is still not possible, complications that arise may not be easily eradicated and might require treatment. Medication combined with lowered salt intake and occasional use of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) can reduce blood pressure in the portal vein and reduce the rate at which fluid builds up.
Other medications may be necessary for portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, and controlling excessive bleeding. Band ligation may be necessary to control bleeding in some patients. It’s important to keep vaccinations up to date and seek medical assistance for even the mildest illness. Frequent blood and imaging tests can be expected to ensure issues are not recurring, liver cancer is not setting in, and that bleeding is under control.
Advanced Liver Cirrhosis
When cirrhosis has advanced to such a state that the liver has ceased working, a liver transplant may be necessary. Unfortunately, this can be a lengthy process of waiting for an appropriate donor that not every advanced cirrhosis patient will survive. A liver transplant involves removing the cirrhotic liver and replacing it with a healthy liver from a donor who no longer needs theirs.
Potential liver recipients must be healthy enough to expect a successful outcome; chronic alcoholism must often be shown as managed before patients qualify. Even still, not every liver transplant is successful. The treatment options for cirrhosis are unfortunately limited, but research for new methods is constantly underway.
