Ascites in liver cirrhosis: causes and treatment

How to treat cirrhosis of the liver

The last stage of liver cirrhosis: causes and consequences

Signs of liver cirrhosis

Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver

How long live with liver cirrhosis

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Treatment of liver cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver – an incurable disease, life-threatening and occurs due to inflammation and scarring of the liver. Disease develops due to certain liver diseases (hepatitis, cholestasis). Treatment is usually symptomatic and is aimed at addressing related symptoms and maintenance of normal liver function.

Cirrhosis develops gradually, at first, even without obvious symptoms. In the later stages appear following major signs of cirrhosis of the liver:

Weakness, fatigue, drowsiness, reduced efficiency.
Loss of appetite and weight loss.
Yellowing the surface of the skin, sclera of the eyes and mucous membranes of the mouth.
Reddening of the palms.
Itchy skin, especially at night.
The appearance of spider veins on the skin.
Weak blood clotting.

One of the main causes of cirrhosis is the portal hypertension syndrome. The syndrome occurs as a result of increase in neck vein pressure. As a result, blood cannot normally circulate in the abdominal organs, causing stagnation of blood in these organs.

The main symptoms of hypertension are:

ascites is an increase in the volume of the stomach as a result of accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity;
occurrence of hemorrhoids;
swelling of the feet;
varicose veins on the legs, side and front surfaces of the abdomen;
discomfort in the left upper quadrant, arising from the increase in volume of the spleen.

Typically, symptoms develop gradually and imperceptibly for the person suffering from chronic liver diseases. The disease goes through several stages. Cirrhosis of the liver last stage hepatic coma with periods of excitation and clear consciousness, then reflexes and sensitivity to pain.

The main treatment

The main principles in the treatment of cirrhosis is to eliminate all causes of cirrhosis, diet and prevention,and treatment of complications of the disease. Today's possible radical treatment of cirrhosis – liver transplant.

The main treatment of liver cirrhosis include:

the identification of the causes of cirrhosis for proper treatment;
complete abstinence from alcohol and use of substances that can harm your liver;
following a special diet with low salt content;
vaccination against hepatitis A and b, and pneumococci, and influenza;
prevention and symptoms of possible complications of cirrhosis;
in case of significant damage of a liver transplant.

Treatment of alcoholic cirrhosis

Treatment of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis should be comprehensive, taking into account the extent of the disease.

Basic principles of therapy:

the refusal of alcoholic beverages;
detoxification therapy;
high-calorie and protein diet;
metabolic therapy;
products containing natural membrane-stabilizing amino acids;
corticosteroids;
drugs UDCA;
membraneprotective-antioxidants;
liver transplant.

Treatment of ascites in liver cirrhosis

The mainstay of treatment of ascites is to comply with bed rest and diet. The likelihood of complications in the ascites decreased when not forced the removal of the fluid (2 l/day).

The principles of treatment of ascites in liver cirrhosis include:

identification of factors contributing to the development of ascites;
diet with restriction of salt in the diet;
the purpose of diuretics;
combination therapy (spironolactone, furosemide, Panangin, glutargin).

Treatment of biliary cirrhosis

process. All therapeutic measures are aimed at slowing disease progression and preventing complications. All activities are focused on the change in diet, lifestyle patients with cirrhosis of the liver, taking certain medications, compliance with a certain level of physical activity. In the treatment of biliary cirrhosis apply the following medications: immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, ursodeoxycholic acid, drugs to enhance the output of copper.