Cirrhosis Concept Map (2024)

FAQs

What is the concept of cirrhosis of the liver? ›

What is cirrhosis? Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and prevents the liver from working normally.

Cirrhosis is a type of liver damage where healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue. Common causes include excessive drinking of alcohol, hepatitis B and C virus infections, and fatty liver that's caused by obesity and diabetes.

Cirrhosis is severe scarring of the liver. This serious condition can be caused by many forms of liver diseases and conditions, such as hepatitis or chronic alcoholism. Each time your liver is injured — whether by excessive alcohol consumption or another cause, such as infection — it tries to repair itself.

A finer stratification includes four stages of cirrhosis: stage 1, compensated cirrhosis without either varices or ascites; stage 2, compensated cirrhosis with varices that have not bled but without ascites; stage 3, ascites without variceal bleeding; and stage 4, variceal bleeding with or without ascites.

Cirrhosis is characterized by fibrosis and nodule formation of the liver secondary to chronic injury, leading to alteration of the normal lobular organization of the liver. Various insults can injure the liver, including viral infections, toxins, hereditary conditions, or autoimmune processes.

It takes upwards of ten years for alcohol-related liver disease to progress from fatty liver through fibrosis to cirrhosis to acute on chronic liver failure. This process is silent and symptom free and can easily be missed in primary care, usually presenting with advanced cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis is a condition in which your liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and prevents your liver from working normally. As cirrhosis gets worse, your liver begins to fail.

People with cirrhosis in Class A have the best prognosis, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years. People with cirrhosis in Class B are still healthy, with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years. As a result, these people have plenty of time to seek sophisticated therapy alternatives such as a liver transplant.

Based on the extent of damage arising in the liver, medical researchers have divided this pathology into 4 main stages: F1, F2, F3, F4. In which, F4 is the final stage of cirrhosis, causing high mortality.

Over time, the progression of cirrhosis leads to chronic and often irreversible liver failure, which can be fatal. While liver failure often occurs slowly over time, several factors can also cause sudden liver failure and, without rapid medical intervention, potentially lead to death.

What are the signs your liver is shutting down? ›

Acute liver failure can develop quickly in an otherwise healthy person, and it is life-threatening. If you or someone you know suddenly develops a yellowing of the eyes or skin; tenderness in the upper abdomen; or any unusual changes in mental state, personality or behavior, seek medical attention right away.

There are two stages in cirrhosis: compensated and decompensated. Compensated cirrhosis: People with compensated cirrhosis do not show symptoms, while life expectancy is around 9–12 years. A person can remain asymptomatic for years, although 5–7% of those with the condition will develop symptoms every year.

More than 80% of people with cirrhosis (a condition involving scarring of the liver) report pain and it's usually described as dull or throbbing. This pain is often reported generally in the abdomen, but people with cirrhosis may also complain of pain in the back, shoulders, and large joints.

Some people with liver disease experience skin itching all over their body or in specific areas, like the feet or arms. Itchiness is not a symptom of liver disease on its own, though. Liver disease is a condition affecting your liver's ability to function.

The most common symptoms are jaundice, nausea, fatigue, and pain on the right side of the abdomen. If you think you may be experiencing signs of liver disease, see a healthcare provider right away. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease.

Cirrhosis cannot usually be cured, but there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications, and stop the condition getting worse.

Foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt put extra stress on the liver. Fast food, packaged foods, and processed foods tend to contain a lot of these elements.

Tests to confirm a diagnosis of cirrhosis include a complete blood count (CBC), liver enzyme, liver function and electrolyte testing as well as screening for other health conditions such as hepatitis B and C viruses, liver cancer or gallstones. In most cases, a liver biopsy is used to confirm the diagnosis.

In the beginning, your body adjusts to compensate for your reduced liver function, and you might not notice it too much. This is known as compensated cirrhosis. Eventually, though, as your liver function declines further, you will begin to experience noticeable symptoms. This is known as decompensated cirrhosis.

What are the main causes of cirrhosis? ›

Cirrhosis is a condition in which scar tissue gradually replaces your healthy liver cells. It usually happens over a long period, often due to infection, other diseases, or alcohol addiction. Most of the time, you can't fix the damage to your liver. But if you catch it early, some treatments can keep problems in check.

In the early stages of compensated cirrhosis, life expectancy may still be upwards of 15 years. When portal hypertension develops, it reduces that expectancy, primarily due to the risk of internal bleeding it can cause. Decompensated cirrhosis has an average life expectancy of seven years.

If cirrhosis progresses and your liver is severely damaged, a liver transplant may be the only treatment option. This is a major operation that involves removing your diseased liver and replacing it with a healthy liver from a donor.

Myth: I might have cirrhosis, but the liver will regenerate and heal itself naturally. Fact: The liver is a highly regenerative organ but only if it's still healthy enough to do so and doesn't have extensive scar tissue. Once cirrhosis is present, your liver's regeneration becomes very limited.

The term "liver disease" applies to many conditions that stop the liver from working or prevent it from functioning well. Abdominal pain or swelling, yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice), or abnormal results of liver function tests may suggest you have liver disease.