Liver diseases cause abnormal or decreased liver function, liver failure and health deterioration. There are a number of liver diseases, with Cirrhosis manifesting as a chronic liver disease where cells and tissue in the liver become damaged and die, replaced by fibrosis scar tissue and nodules that prevent healthy liver function.
The liver organ in the human body is located in the abdominal-pelvic space below the diaphragm. The liver is responsible for metabolic functions, including protein synthesis, glycogen storage, hormone production, red blood cell decomposition, digestion and detoxification (the excretion of bilirubin and bile).
Through these functions the liver regulates the body's biochemical function for healthy survival. When these functions deteriorate and fail, due to liver disease, a person’s health declines and this can be fatal. Due to the liver's inter-dependent role within the human body an unhealthy liver can rapidly cause and accelerate disease, such as Cirrhosis.
When liver functions deteriorate due to Cirrhosis, bilirubin is not excreted. Bilirubin is a haematoidin (a component of red blood cells) which is produced when the cells break up and is normally excreted by the liver as bile. Bilirubin can be found in bruises, yellow urine and brown faeces once the liver has excreted it. Liver disease prevents normal liver function and bilirubin excretion, so bile is allowed to build up in the system and cause a range of symptoms related to Cirrhosis.
The cause of Cirrhosis may be unknown (idiopathic) in some cases, nonetheless most cases of liver disease and Cirrhosis result from:
Symptoms of liver disease can include light yellow or very pale stools, jaundice, becoming easily bruised, abdominal and joint swelling, dark urine and fatigue. Other symptoms include nausea, sickness, vomiting blood, vascular lesions, nose and gum bleeds, red spider veins on the skin, edema, loss of appetite, weight loss, deformed or discoloured nails and fingers, impotence (male), musty breath, gynaecomastia, enlarged spleen, hypertension, mental confusion and comas.
Cirrhosis is highly detrimental to a person’s health causing internal bleeding, organ failure, malnutrition and the malfunction of metabolic processes needed for health and living. As the liver accumulates bilirubin this collected bile can then also accumulate in the brain causing neurological damage, neurotoxicity or Kernicterus, which results in damage to eye function, seizures and irregular reflexes.
Excessive fluid retention due to irregular liver activity can cause pressure to build up in the body, increasing blood pressure and the risk of a stroke or heart disease.
Besides the obvious visual symptoms apparent with jaundice (yellow eyes and skin), a liver biopsy conducted by a medical practitioner is usually what is used to diagnose Cirrhosis. The biopsy is performed using various methods, which include laparoscopic, percutaneous and transjugular procedures.
Laboratory FibroTests may also be used, which involves a six blood serum test to indicate the degree of liver damage. Assessing the levels of markers such as albumin, globulin, bilirubin, aminotransferases and alkaline phosphatase helps determine the severity of the liver damage. Other diagnostic tests include:
Cirrhosis cannot be cured but it can be managed. Treatments for Cirrhosis will depend on cause and complications, such as Wilson's disease which may be treated through chelation therapy to remove excess copper from the body. Other treatments for Cirrhosis may include:
Once someone has chronic liver disease and Cirrhosis, the damage and effects cannot be reversed and treatment is directed at chronic symptoms and trying to prevent complications. People can prevent liver disease in some cases or prevent deterioration by: