Cirrhosis is the last stage of
chronic inflammation or other damage to the liver. It is
characterized by excess formation of scar tissue
(fibrosis), and results in the loss of liver cells and
increased resistance of blood flow through the liver.
Signs and Symptoms:
Exhaustion,
fatigue, Loss of apetitie, weakness, weight loss, abdominal
pain, spider angiomas (spider like blood vessels).
Causes of
Cirrhosis:
Alcohol
consumption
Chronic
hepatitis C virus infection
Chronic
hepatitis B & D infection
Inherited
Disease like
Haemochromatosis
- abnormal processing of iron by the body
Wilson’s disease - abnormal processing of copper by the body
Glycogen or lipid storage diseases
Blocked bile
duct
Drug, toxins and
infections
Disease of Blood
vessels (Budd-Chiari Syndrome).
Diagnosis:
Laboratory tests
Medical history
& physical examination
Liver Biopsy
Treatment:
Treatment for
cirrhosis varies depending on the cause of the damage:
If the cirrhosis
is caused by Alcohol then it must be stopped
If it is caused
by other diseases like hepatitis infection then medication for
the hepatitis will be given
Cirrhosis caused
by Wilson's disease, in which copper builds up in organs, is
treated with medications to remove the copper.
