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Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis — a disease characterized by functional insufficiency of the liver in connection with the violation of its structure due to proliferation of connective tissue. Nodes are formed, regeneration of parenchyma, fibrous septae, leading to the restructuring of the vascular system of the body.

Reasons may be:

  • Viral hepatitis,
  • Chronic alcoholism,
  • Toxic effects,
  • Hereditary factor
  • Prolonged cardiac failure causing venous congestion in the liver.

What are the symptoms for cirrhosis of the liver should alert the patient?

  • Decreased performance,
  • Bloating,
  • Pain in the liver,
  • Bitter taste in the mouth,
  • Jaundice.

Even the first symptoms of liver cirrhosis can talk about irreversible changes in it. Often it is the final phase of hepatitis. Cirrhosis is a process of dying of liver cells and replacing them with knots of abnormal cells that are unable to perform any work. Connective tissue, expanding, compresses the vessels of the liver, which also leads to the death of its cells.

Variants of the disease several. Classification of liver cirrhosis can be according to the morphological characteristics (in the liver) and etiological (cause of disease).

Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver largely depends on the form and stage of the disease.

Decided to allocate 4 stages of cirrhosis of the liver:

      1.Preclinical stage. In the first stage, there is damage to the bile capillaries.
      2.The second stage (stage of clinical manifestations) is characterized by a decrease in the flow of bile some of the destructive processes.
      3.Cirrhosis of the liver grade 3 is characterized by pronounced clinical manifestations: the beginning of the formation of connective tissue instead of dying liver cells, signs of active inflammatory process. Occur necrosis of the parenchyma.
      4.Cirrhosis of the liver 4 – stage complications: the appearance of the nodes of regeneration, foci of inflammation of varying severity.

So, symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver:

  • Increased belly,
  • Abdominal pain,
  • Yellowish color of the skin,
  • Enlargement of the spleen,
  • Fatigue, drowsiness,
  • Bleeding gums,
  • Swelling,
  • Ascites,
  • Decreased sex drive,
  • Change the color of stool is lighter and urine is darker,
  • "Liver palms" (palms are bright red) is quite a characteristic feature of cirrhosis. At this stage of the formation of spider veins from cirrhosis. They can cover the cheeks, arms, upper torso.

In separate form it is customary to distinguish alcoholic cirrhosis. Symptoms of alcoholic cirrhosis, in addition to the above, include a common symptoms of alcohol intoxication. The patient loses weight, the belly remains enlarged. Have the peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, chronic pancreatitis etc.

Symptoms decided to unite in groups: clinical syndromes of liver cirrhosis. Such syndrome several. The main ones:

  • Portal hypertension (increased pressure in the hepatic veins);
  • Hepatic encephalopathy;
  • Hepatolienal syndrome (hepato-splenic syndrome);
  • Liver cell failure.

Treatment of liver cirrhosis

need diuretics, iron supplements, anabolic steroids and others. However, do not get involved with drugs, because the liver and as bad job, and she will have to process the medication. Doctor, of course, will take into account all "pros" and "cons", the task of the patient time to ask.

The prognosis of liver cirrhosis

As mentioned in the beginning of this article, liver cirrhosis causes irreversible changes in it, so the forecast in many cases negative. A lot depends on the compensation body of the pathological process. The compensated cirrhosis half of patients live more than 7 years. In decompensated after three years survival of less than half. If cirrhosis is accompanied by Central nervous system lesions, the prognosis is catastrophic for patients: most of them die within a year. The main causes of death complications of cirrhosis of the liver. Among them, hepatic coma, gastrointestinal bleeding.

Not to be among patients with a poor prognosis, it is necessary to know the basic signs of cirrhosis of the liver and the detection of 1-2 such symptoms to seek medical attention.

In any cases, you should suspect yourself of cirrhosis?

  • For a long time I wasn't feeling well.
  • Lose weight and feel discomfort in the liver area.
  • In addition to the described symptoms you have sometimes belching, bitter taste in the mouth increased by stomach.