Main menu

Pages

Can cirrhosis be treated?



cirrhosis
cirrhosis


The treatment of any disease aims to help the patient enjoy a normal life without pain. Even in the absence of definitive treatment, follow-up with the doctor and attention to treatment should be taken to prevent the deterioration of the health condition. 


This happens with cases of advanced liver disease, as a large part of the treatment plan depends on stopping the symptoms and not deteriorating, and trying to improve the condition of the liver. We will explain this idea in detail in the following article with the answer to the question: Can cirrhosis of the liver be cured?


Cirrhosis is a late stage of scarring, caused by many things, such as hepatitis and chronic alcoholism.  This is the stage when the liver is severely scarred and permanently damaged.  There comes a point when the damage becomes severe and the liver cannot repair itself, so no treatment can cure cirrhosis, but treating the underlying cause of cirrhosis can protect against cirrhosis and help prevent liver failure.


In general, cirrhosis can't be cured, but if early cirrhosis symptoms are diagnosed and the cause treated, further damage can be limited and the condition prevented from progressing to complete liver damage.


How is cirrhosis treated?


Many cases of cirrhosis occur due to the patient's infection with hepatitis C or B virus, cirrhosis, alcoholism, or fatty liver, so it is important to treat this problem first so as not to increase cirrhosis.


cirrhosis is incurable, but it is treatable.  Doctors have two main goals in treating this disease.  The two stop cirrhosis and prevent complications.


In the following lines, we will explain in detail the importance of treating each of them, to reduce the deterioration of cirrhosis.


Treatment of hepatitis.


Hepatitis B viruses cause cirrhosis of the liver which can lead to cirrhosis.  For hepatitis C, there are now antiviral treatments that lead to a cure in the vast majority of people.


Treatment options include antiviral medications, and the type of medication you get depends on the type of hepatitis you have.  Interferon therapy can also help this immune system fight the hepatitis virus.


Interferon is not often used to treat hepatitis C. Because it can be treated with antiviral drugs.


Treatment of alcohol addiction.


The liver's job is to detoxify and break down toxins from the body, and alcohol is toxic, so when you drink a lot, your liver has to work harder to process it.  In cases of liver disease, you should stop drinking.  This can be difficult, so ask your doctor about things you can try.


Consultation with your doctor may help you stop drinking, such as individual counseling with a therapist, support groups to help you manage the factors that make you drink, rehabilitation programs for patients, and prescription medications such as naltrexone and acamprosate.




Treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.


This treatment begins with following a healthy diet, preventing eating unhealthy fats and eating only healthy fats, exercising, and avoiding certain foods such as red meat and sugary foods.  To learn about the foods that suit the condition of patients with liver disease, read the following article, What are the best foods for a liver patient?


Treatment of autoimmune hepatitis and primary biliary fibrosis.


In both of these diseases, the body's natural defense system attacks and damages the liver. Primary biliary cirrhosis destroys the bile duct, which is responsible for transporting digestive fluid (bile) from the liver to the gallbladder and intestine.  The main treatment for primary biliary cirrhosis is ursodiol. The treatment of autoimmune hepatitis is steroids and other drugs that prevent the immune system from attacking the liver.


What is the treatment for complications of cirrhosis of the liver?


treatment for complications of cirrhosis



Liver cirrhosis may cause many complications to the patient, including:

  • High blood pressure in the portal veins of the liver: scarring in the liver blocks blood flow through the portal vein, the main blood vessel of the liver. This increases blood pressure in the portal vein as well as in the system of veins that connect to it.  High blood pressure medications lower the pressure in the portal vein and other blood vessels so they don't swell to the point of bursting.

  • Esophageal varices: Varicose veins are swollen blood vessels caused by obstruction of blood flow and are usually found in the esophagus and stomach.  In cirrhosis, it can stretch so much that it eventually ruptures and bleeds.  Your doctor can tie a special rubber band around the varicose veins to stop them.

  • Fluid buildup in the abdomen: Increased pressure in the portal vein and decreased liver function can lead to a buildup of fluid in your abdomen, called ascites.  Your doctor can prescribe medications called diuretics to help your body get rid of excess fluid, and you may need antibiotics to prevent bacteria from growing in it and causing an infection.  Your doctor can perform a procedure to remove fluid from your abdomen or relieve pressure in the portal vein.

  • Liver cancer: The patient undergoes blood tests or ultrasounds every 6 to 12 months to look for cancer.  If the patient has already developed liver cancer, the main treatments are surgery, radiotherapy, or chemotherapy.

  • Liver transplant problems: cirrhosis can damage the liver to the point that it no longer works, which is called liver failure.  A transplant means replacing a damaged liver with a healthy liver from a donor.  The transplant may come with risks such as bleeding and infection, and after the surgery, you will need to take medications to prevent your body from rejecting the new organ.

Does cirrhosis cause death?


Cirrhosis itself does not cause death, but if a patient neglects their condition after being diagnosed with cirrhosis, symptoms can develop and lead to liver failure, when the patient is actually at risk of death.


In the end, every cirrhosis patient can control his condition by maintaining his commitment to the treatment, avoiding the prohibitions set by the doctor, including forbidden eating for patients with cirrhosis of the liver, and do not forget to go to the doctor when feeling the early symptoms to prevent access to cirrhosis of the liver in the first place.

Comments

View My Stats