Cirrhosis – What It Is and How It Damages Liver Health

I recently spoke with a hepatologist who highlighted a concerning trend: a surge in liver disorders that often go unnoticed until it’s too late. Dubbed the “silent creeper,” these conditions quietly affect us, exacerbated by our fast-paced lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits.

Shockingly, liver diseases account for about two million deaths annually, comprising 4% of all global deaths (equivalent to 1 in every 25 deaths worldwide).

With this in mind, I’ve decided to delve into cirrhosis, an advanced liver disorder, to shed light on its complexities and highlight the crucial measures needed to address this pressing issue.

What is Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis develops after prolonged inflammation causes scarring, impairing the liver’s normal function. This interference with blood flow, bile output, and waste elimination leads to liver failure over time.

Cirrhosis is more prevalent among overweight individuals and smokers. The rate at which cirrhosis progresses , the key focus of preventive measures and treatment revolve around the root causes of the condition.

Causes of Cirrhosis

Common causes of liver cirrhosis include alcoholic and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, as well as viral hepatitis (B or C).

Other factors can contribute, such as autoimmune diseases, inherited disorders affecting the liver, cardiovascular conditions disrupting blood flow, and rare causes like certain medications and porphyria (Disorders results from build-up of certain chemicals related to red blood cell proteins).

Symptoms of Cirrhosis

In the early stages of cirrhosis, symptoms may not be apparent.

As the condition progresses, symptoms such as loss of appetite, fatigue, nausea, weight loss, abdominal pain, spider-like blood vessels, and itching may manifest.

Various complications can arise, including:

• Yellowish discoloration of the skin and whites of the eyes due to excess bilirubin (Jaundice)
• Enlargement of the spleen due to portal hypertension.
• Blood related abnormalities like low number of platelets in the blood)
• Dilated veins of stomach and intestine (Gastrointestinal varices)
• Accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (Ascites)
• Infection of the abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis)
• Liver Cancer (Hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Decline in brain function that occurs as a result of severe liver disease (Hepatic encephalopathy)
• Level of sodium in the blood is too low (Hyponatremia)
• Condition affecting liver and kidneys (Hepatorenal syndrome)
• Spider angiomata (collection of small, dilated blood vessels clustered very close to the surface of the skin, due to increase level of estrogen in body)

Diagnosis of Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is diagnosed through characteristic findings on clinical examination, laboratory tests, histological examinations, and radiological procedures such as ultrasound, CT scans, endoscopy, and MRI scans.

Typical diagnostic indicators encompass cutaneous signs of liver disease, a firm liver upon palpation, and risk factors like metabolic syndrome, heavy alcohol consumption, exposure to hepatotoxic substances, and the use of hepatotoxic medications.

Read more about the management of cirrhosis, including diet and nutrition.

REFERENCE

1. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis#:~:text=Cirrhosis%20is%20a%20condition%20in,your%20liver%20begins%20to%20fail.
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3583179/
3. https://www.thelancet.com/article/S0140-6736(21)01374-X/abstract
4. https://www.yalemedicine.org/conditions/cirrhosis
5. Manoj-Suva. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/262944038
6. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36990226/

Image Disclaimer: Some images in this article are AI-generated, while others are sourced from royalty-free platforms like Pexels, used solely for illustrative purposes. Picture credit to the original owners.