"Liver cirrhosis is defined as a permanent change in the structure of the liver, which can eventually lead to liver failure. Inflammation of the liver due to any cause that is long standing can develop into cirrhosis:" revealed Dr Saeed Hamid, Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). He was giving a presentation on Liver Cirrhosis" at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' monthly health awareness programme held on June 24. 2000.
Dr Hamid informed that most commonly chronic viral hepatitis Band C cause the development of liver cirrhosis in our country. Other important causes of cirrhosis include alcohol abuse and certain drugs. "In the early stages of liver cirrhosis, patients may remain well and not have any symptoms because the liver is still able to function well enough. This is the stage of compensated cirrhosis and. although it is not completely curable. Patients can still be treated for their liver disease with some benefit. For example patients with chronic hepatitis B and C can be given treatment with interferon and if the infection can be successfully eradicated, survival of the patient can be significantly prolonged. Similarly if patients with alcoholic liver disease stop drinking many of the liver changes can regress."
Dr Hamid further added that, "The stage of compensated liver cirrhosis can continue for many years before it progresses to the stage of decompensation, if left untreated. In the decompensated stage, the function of the liver deteriorates further and various complications of liver cirrhosis start to appear. These include the development of abnormal veins in the food pipe (esophagus) and stomach that can sometimes burst and cause major bleeding in the patient. Other important complications are the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, causing the abdomen to swell, and effects on the brain that cause confusion and excessive sleepiness or even coma in the patient. In such situations the patients has to be admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment. Most complications of liver cirrhosis can be effectively treated in a well-equipped hospital. Control of bleeding requires an urgent endoscopy during which the bleeding veins in the esophagus can be injected to stop the bleeding or squeezed with the help of rubber bands. Similarly fluid from the abdomen may require to be removed by a syringe to provide relief to the patient."
"Liver cirrhosis is defined as a permanent change in the structure of the liver, which can eventually lead to liver failure. Inflammation of the liver due to any cause that is long standing can develop into cirrhosis:" revealed Dr Saeed Hamid, Associate Professor of Medicine and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH). He was giving a presentation on Liver Cirrhosis" at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' monthly health awareness programme held on June 24. 2000.
Dr Hamid informed that most commonly chronic viral hepatitis Band C cause the development of liver cirrhosis in our country. Other important causes of cirrhosis include alcohol abuse and certain drugs. "In the early stages of liver cirrhosis, patients may remain well and not have any symptoms because the liver is still able to function well enough. This is the stage of compensated cirrhosis and. although it is not completely curable. Patients can still be treated for their liver disease with some benefit. For example patients with chronic hepatitis B and C can be given treatment with interferon and if the infection can be successfully eradicated, survival of the patient can be significantly prolonged. Similarly if patients with alcoholic liver disease stop drinking many of the liver changes can regress."
Dr Hamid further added that, "The stage of compensated liver cirrhosis can continue for many years before it progresses to the stage of decompensation, if left untreated. In the decompensated stage, the function of the liver deteriorates further and various complications of liver cirrhosis start to appear. These include the development of abnormal veins in the food pipe (esophagus) and stomach that can sometimes burst and cause major bleeding in the patient. Other important complications are the accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, causing the abdomen to swell, and effects on the brain that cause confusion and excessive sleepiness or even coma in the patient. In such situations the patients has to be admitted to the hospital for emergency treatment. Most complications of liver cirrhosis can be effectively treated in a well-equipped hospital. Control of bleeding requires an urgent endoscopy during which the bleeding veins in the esophagus can be injected to stop the bleeding or squeezed with the help of rubber bands. Similarly fluid from the abdomen may require to be removed by a syringe to provide relief to the patient."
