Liver cirrhosis: symptoms
- Posted on 04/03/2024 19:09
- Film
- By raymonddzakpata@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: Liver cirrhosis corresponds to the ultimate stage of chronic liver diseases. Its origin can be viral, medication-induced, or alcohol-related. Clinically, it represents highly advanced and often irreversible fibrous scarring, which disrupts the...
Liver
cirrhosis corresponds to the ultimate stage of chronic liver diseases. Its
origin can be viral, medication-induced, or alcohol-related. Clinically, it
represents highly advanced and often irreversible fibrous scarring, which
disrupts the functioning of the liver. What are its symptoms ?
Cirrhosis is a serious liver disease characterized by diffuse and irreversible hepatic lesions. Cirrhosis can progress or stabilize, but it cannot regress under any circumstances. Once established, it is always definitive. As cirrhosis progresses, the liver becomes irregular in shape, hardens, and complications arise.
What is liver cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis
is characterized by chronic inflammation leading to a series of diffuse
lesions. These lesions, the main one being the destruction of liver cells
(hepatocytes), induce anarchic regeneration of these cells associated with
scarring (fibrosis). This reorganization of liver cells alters the liver's
structure and forms abnormal nodules (clusters of cells). Cirrhosis thus
represents the culmination of a slow transformation of the liver due to
fibrosis. In alcoholic and obese patients, cirrhosis is often preceded by
hepatic steatosis, which involves the accumulation and infiltration of fat in
the liver (also associated with metabolic syndrome).
These
modifications, which make the liver harder and form nodules, lead to
obstruction of blood flow in the liver, resulting in the loss of its functions
(metabolic and regulatory functions) and leading to multiple complications.
Cirrhosis thus alters the function and structure of the liver, which has
several consequences: primary liver functions such as blood filtration and bile
secretion are no longer fulfilled. Portal hypertension develops (an increase in
pressure inside the vein system that carries blood from the digestive system to
the liver), promoting the formation of varices (dilated veins) in the esophagus
that may bleed. Eventually, cirrhosis can progress to liver cancer within 15 to
20 years of its onset.
Caution: Do
not confuse liver cirrhosis with other causes of an enlarged liver: secondary
cardiac liver due to heart failure, liver tumors, large liver due to
cholestasis, amyloidosis, steatosis, parasitosis.
Causes of cirrhosis
The
main cause of liver cirrhosis is excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption.
Other causes include chronic viral hepatitis (a liver disease due to infection
with viruses), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis characterized by the accumulation
of fat in the liver (steatosis) associated with liver inflammation (hepatitis)
that can progress to fibrosis and then cirrhosis.
Symptoms
Cirrhosis is insidious and remains asymptomatic and painless for a long time; therefore, it is often discovered during a clinical examination. In the early stages of cirrhosis, some general symptoms may lead to an assessment and diagnosis: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fatigue, exhaustion, weakness, muscle cramps. Signs indicating hypertension, splenomegaly (enlargement of the spleen), abdominal collateral circulation.
Article validated by Mr. Mathieu
Tobossi Kponou, Expert in Phytohepatology
Raymond DZAKPATA
