The human liver, responsible for more than 200 vital functions, is the largest internal organ of the body. It fulfills its myriad tasks silently in the background until something goes wrong. Even in most circumstances, the liver will heal itself and return to it's originally healthy and stealth state again. Not only is the liver proficient at self-healing, it has an amazing ability to regenerate itself. In fact, during liver transplants, a portion of a donated liver, only 30 percent of its original size, is able to regenerate itself into a complete full-sized liver within a year. Despite this incredible feat, the liver can't always heal itself and cirrhosis is one of the main culprits for destroying the liver's ability to function properly. Cirrhosis causes severe scarring within the liver and is typically seen in alcoholics and individuals with hepatitis.
Almost 35,000 people in the United States die each year from cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis, an incurable and usually slow developing disease, often goes undetected in the early stages. Inflammation is one of the first signs, featuring an inflamed or enlarged liver. The individual may or may not have any noticeable symptoms. In the second stage, scar tissue invades healthy tissue causing it to scar as well. Eventually, in stage 3, cirrhosis is established when severe scarring interferes with liver function. At end-stage cirrhosis, the individual's liver will fail to function sufficiently to maintain life. Cancer may also be present in the final stage.
Getting Cirrhosis Treated
Doctors use pharmaceutical medications to manage symptoms of cirrhosis but treatment, in most cases, is designed to slow down the progression of the scarring and to retain as much function of the liver as possible. These are just a few of the typical treatments used:
- Hemochromatosis to reduce toxic levels of copper
- Immune system suppression to control inflammation
- Elimination of hepatitis C to reduce viral load and toxicity
- Immunizations against hepatitis A and B
Self-care is also an important part of treating cirrhosis. Avoiding drugs and alcohol will substantially slow down the progression of disease. A healthy diet that includes extra vitamin D and K, along with eliminating foods that are hard on the liver, like fried foods, also delays progression and may alleviate discomforts associated with inflammation.
Questions and Answers
You likely have many questions about cirrhosis. What follows are some rather common questions with some quick answers. Remember that the best person to answer all of your questions is your doctor.
Q: Do young people get cirrhosis?
A: Cirrhosis usually affects people in their 50s and 60s. Cirrhosis in people under the age of 18 is rare and is usually caused by autoimmune disorders. However, in the past two decades, cirrhosis death rates have increased dramatically in people between the ages of 25 to 35. The cause is attributed to binge drinking and alcoholism.
Q: Does cirrhosis cause liver cancer?
A: Liver cancer is common in end-stage cirrhosis of the liver. In more than 70 percent of people with liver cancer, cirrhosis is responsible for developing the disease.
Q: Is cirrhosis contagious?
A: On its own, cirrhosis is not contagious but hepatitis is very contagious and is also a major cause for developing cirrhosis of the liver.
Q: Does cirrhosis cause personality changes in people?
A: In the late stages of the disease, hepatic encephalopathy can cause high toxicity in the brain with obvious changes in the patient's personality, including mood changes and confused speech.
Q: Does cirrhosis make you itch?
A: Itching is a common symptom of cirrhosis. People report itching more at night or in the evening. The itch may be all over the body or limited to specific areas like the feet, palms, or limbs.
Q: Does cirrhosis give you a rash?
A: Cirrhosis can cause painless, small hemorrhages directly under the skin that appear as red or purple dots.
Q: Do you have to have a liver biopsy to get diagnosed with cirrhosis?
A: Blood tests, an ultrasound and a CT scan are usually performed first to determine the presence of disease. If those tests are inconclusive, a biopsy may be necessary.