What are the consequences of liver cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is a severe chronic liver disease that results in liver tissue fibrosis and nodule regeneration due to long-term liver damage. Without timely intervention, cirrhosis of the liver will cause a series of serious consequences and even be life-threatening. Below is a detailed analysis of the possible health risks and complications of cirrhosis.
1. Main consequences of cirrhosis
| Consequence type | Specific performance | degree of harm |
|---|---|---|
| liver failure | Metabolic disorders, toxin accumulation, coagulation dysfunction | High (potentially fatal) |
| portal hypertension | Esophageal and gastric varices, splenomegaly, ascites | High (easy to cause major bleeding) |
| hepatic encephalopathy | Disorder of consciousness, abnormal behavior, coma | Medium to high (requires urgent treatment) |
| liver cancer | Hepatocellular carcinoma (primary liver cancer) | Very high (high mortality rate) |
| infection risk | Spontaneous peritonitis, sepsis | Moderate (requires antibiotic treatment) |
2. Detailed description of complications
1. Liver failure
Advanced liver cirrhosis will cause the liver to be unable to metabolize toxins normally, leading to jaundice, coagulation disorders (such as gum bleeding) and ammonia poisoning. In severe cases, liver transplantation is required.
2. Portal hypertension
Cirrhosis blocks liver blood flow and transmits pressure to the portal vein, leading to ascites, hypersplenism (thrombocytopenia), and the most dangerous thing is esophageal variceal rupture and massive bleeding, with a mortality rate of 20%-30%.
3. Hepatic encephalopathy
Because elevated blood ammonia affects brain function, patients may suffer from memory loss, disorientation, and even coma. It needs to be controlled by protein-restricted diet and medication.
4. Liver cancer (HCC)
About 3%-5% of patients with cirrhosis will develop liver cancer every year. Early symptoms are insidious, and late-stage survival rates are extremely low. Regular ultrasound and AFP testing are essential.
5. Other system impacts
| Affected systems | performance |
|---|---|
| endocrine system | Diabetes, sex hormone disorders (gynaecomastia) |
| immune system | Susceptible to infection and delayed wound healing |
| kidney | Hepatorenal syndrome (oliguria, elevated creatinine) |
3. Prevention and treatment suggestions
1.Cause control: Alcohol abstinence, antiviral treatment (hepatitis B/hepatitis C), weight loss (fatty liver disease).
2.Regular monitoring: Liver ultrasound and liver function tests should be done every 6 months.
3.Complication management: Diuretics (ascites), beta blockers (prevention of bleeding), lactulose (hepatic encephalopathy).
4.ultimate solution: End-stage patients need to be evaluated for the possibility of liver transplantation, and the 5-year survival rate can reach more than 70%.
Conclusion
Cirrhosis is an irreversible pathological change, but early intervention can slow its progression. Patients need to strictly follow medical instructions, avoid high-salt and high-protein diets, and be alert to emergency signs such as vomiting blood and confusion.
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