Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is a late-stage liver disease in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue and the liver is permanently damaged. Scar tissue keeps your liver from working properly. Many types of liver diseases and conditions injure healthy liver cells, causing cell death and inflammation. This is followed by cell repair and finally tissue scarring as a result of the repair process.
The scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver and slows the liver’s ability to process nutrients, hormones, drugs and natural toxins (poisons). It also reduces the production of proteins and other substances made by the liver. Cirrhosis eventually keeps the liver from working properly. Late-stage cirrhosis is life-threatening.
The liver is a very hardy organ and is normally able to regenerate damaged cells. Cirrhosis develops when the factors that damage the liver (such as alcohol and chronic viral infections) are present over a long period of time. When this happens, the liver becomes injured and scarred. A scarred liver can’t function properly, and ultimately, this may result in cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis causes the liver to shrink and harden. This makes it difficult for nutrient-rich blood to flow into the liver from the portal vein. The portal vein carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. The pressure in the portal vein rises when blood can’t pass into the liver.
The end result is a serious condition called portal hypertension, in which the vein develops high blood pressure. This high-pressure system causes a backup, which leads to esophageal varices (like varicose veins), which can then burst and bleed.
Treatment for cirrhosis varies based on what caused it and how far the disorder has progressed. Some treatments your doctor might prescribe include:
beta blockers or nitrates (for portal hypertension),
quitting drinking (if the cirrhosis is caused by alcohol),
banding procedures (used to control bleeding from esophageal varices),
intravenous antibiotics (to treat peritonitis that can occur with ascites),
hemodialysis (to purify the blood of those in kidney failure),
lactulose and a low protein diet (to treat encephalopathy).
Liver transplantation is an option of last resort, when other treatments fail.