Cirrhosis (cont.)
What is new and in the future for cirrhosis?
Progress in the management and prevention of cirrhosis
continues. Research is ongoing to determine the mechanism of scar formation in
the liver and how this process of scarring can be interrupted or even reversed.
Newer and better treatments for viral liver disease are being developed to
prevent the progression to cirrhosis. Prevention of viral hepatitis by
vaccination, which is
available for hepatitis B, is being developed for hepatitis C. Treatments for
the complications of cirrhosis are being developed or revised and tested
continually. Finally, research is being directed at identifying new proteins in
the blood that can detect liver cancer early or predict which patients will
develop liver cancer.
- Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease which
involves loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring of the liver.
- Alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C are common causes
of cirrhosis, although there are many other causes.
- Cirrhosis can cause weakness, loss of appetite, easy
bruising, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), itching, and fatigue.
- Diagnosis of cirrhosis can be suggested by the
history, physical examination and blood tests, and can be confirmed by liver
biopsy.
- Complications of cirrhosis include edema and ascites,
spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, bleeding from varices, hepatic
encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, hypersplenism,
and liver cancer.
- Treatment of cirrhosis is designed to prevent further
damage to the liver, treat complications of cirrhosis, and preventing or
detecting liver cancer early.
- Transplantation of the liver is becoming an important option for treating
patients with advanced cirrhosis.
Last Editorial Review: 12/1/2005
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