Cirrhosis
Liver is the biggest and one of the most important organs of the human body. This fact will be established after going through its functions that includes:
- Elimination of toxins from the blood
- Regulate blood pressure
- Excrete wastes from body
- Maintains acid base homeostasis
- Secretion of variety of hormones for
- Controls infections by controlling protein generation
- Aids digestion of fat and fat soluble vitamins
Cirrhosis is a condition in which a healthy tissue is replaced by a scar that disturbs the blood flow through this organ and prevents it from functioning properly. Cirrhosis is one of the major causes of death in the world.
Cirrhosis: Causes
Cirrhosis can be caused owing to various reasons. Excessive alcohol consumption and hepatitis are two major factors that can cause Cirrhosis. Alcoholic Cirrhosis starts showing effect almost ten years after the beginning of the habit. Alcohol can form lesions in the liver and block the normal metabolism of proteins, fat and carbohydrates.
Other common causes of Cirrhosis are:
Chronic Hepatitis C
This causes liver to swell and affects its functioning. Prolonged infection can result in Cirrhosis.
Chronic Hepatitis B and D
Hepatitis B is the most common cause of Cirrhosis in the world. Hepatitis D affects the people already infected with Hepatitis B. These days, vaccines are developed to control the spread of these viruses.
Autoimmune Hepatitis
If the body’s immune system does not recognize its own organisms, it attacks the liver causing inflammation and later cirrhosis.
Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
): If excess of fat accumulate in liver, it causes this condition that later leads to cirrhosis. Diabetes, malnutrition, obesity, heart disease or corticosteroid treatment can aggravate this problem.
Bile ducts obstruction
Accumulation of bile owing to obstructed bile duct causes liver damage. The ducts may be damaged or closed by an accident or after a surgery.
Toxins, drugs and infections
Certain medication and drugs may damage liver. Similarly, infections and diseases can also affect liver functioning. Continuous exposure to toxins may also cause cirrhosis.
Hereditary factors
Hereditary diseases like hemocromatosis, Alpha-1-antitripsin deficiency, Wilson’s disease, Galactosemia, and Glycogen Storage Diseases affects liver functioning and can cause cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis: Symptoms
Initial incubation of cirrhosis shows no symptoms. However, as the time lapses, lever function starts deteriorating and symptoms like fatigue, low appetite, nausea and weakness starts showing up. Slowly, these symptoms convert into weight loss, stomach ache and projection of blood vessels above skin level. The complications may increase with time.
Cirrhosis: Complications
Edema and ascitis
It is accumulation of water in the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites), as the liver reduces the production of albumin.
Bruises and hematomas
Cirrhosis can cause the patient to get hematomas or bleeding with ease. Reddening of the palms called “palmar erythema” can also happen.
Jaundice
As liver stops processing bilirubin in sufficient quantity, discoloration of the skin, sclera (white of the eyes) and mucous membranes caused by hyperbilirubinemia (increased levels of bilirubin in the blood) causes jaundice.
Itching or Pruritus
. Itching can be caused as the byproducts of bilirubin are deposited in the skin.
Biliary stones
Cirrhosis prevents bilis to get to the gall bladder. As a result, the patient can develop stones that affect digestion.
Toxins in blood and brain
As liver stops eliminating toxins, they accumulate and reach brain through blood.
Sensibility to medication
Cirrhosis makes the liver slower to process drugs. So, they will accumulate in the system and take longer time to act, making the patient more sensitive and prone to adverse effects.
Portal hypertension
Portal vein is responsible to carry blood from the digestive system and the spleen to the liver. This process slows down to cause portal hypertension.
Varicose veins
Blood vessels from the digestive tract and the spleen increase their size to show up above the skin level. This phenomenon is called varicose veins. These are prone to injuries and can cause lethal bleeding.
Insulin resistance and type 2 Diabetes
Cirrhosis causes insulin resistance. The pancreas will not produce enough insulin for the body and type 2 Diabetes will develop.
Liver cancer
Cirrhosis can cause Hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of cancer. It starts in the liver tissue and has a high mortality rate.
Problems in other organs
As Cirrhosis makes the immune system to malfunction, patient becomes prone to infections. Cirrhosis can also cause erectile dysfunction, kidney failure and osteoporosis.
Diagnosis
An expert doctor will evaluate symptoms, clinical history of the patient and performs a physical check. The patient will have to undergo blood tests to confirm the presence of cirrhosis. Sometimes the doctor may advise various scans and examine the liver using a laparospic device or complete the evaluation with esophagus and stomach endoscopy. A liver biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.
