Cirrhosis of the Liver Essay

birth control pills cause hepatic vein thrombosis, particularly to smokers. The disease is more common in males than in females.

The most common cause of Cirrhosis is chronic abuse of alcohol or a long-term viral hepatitis B especially in the United States (Wiest, Lawson, & Geuking, 2014). Being obese or diabetic is also a risk factor as well as non-alcoholic steatohepatitis which causes a build-up of excessive fats in the liver. Some over the counter medications like acetaminophen, antidepressants, and some antibiotics increase the chances of developing the condition as well as the disorders that reduce the ability of the body to handle iron or copper which makes it accumulate in the liver. Hepatitis D, C, autoimmune hepatitis and damaged bile ducts due to poor formation are also causes of liver cirrhosis. The Wilson disease, Cystic fibrosis, Alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency, glycogen storage diseases and hemochromatosis are inherited diseases and they are risk factors for developing Cirrhosis. A person with repeated heart failure is prone to developing liver cirrhosis due to the backing up of fluid into the liver.

Liver cirrhosis is a hepatic process consisting of fibrosis and normal liver structure conversion to abnormal nodules. The final stage of liver diseases is represented by liver cirrhosis and the progress varies with patients ranging from weeks to years. When the liver is injured, the cells get scarred and it is unable to function properly. It hardens and shrinks preventing the flow of nutrient-rich blood from portal vein into the liver. Distortion of the hepatic is caused by fibrosis which leads to an increase in intrahepatic resistance (Mokdad, et al, 2014). The pressure of portal vein rises as

a result of failure of blood to pass and the body develops portal hypertension whereby there is a high blood pressure in the veins. As a result, there is a backup that causes esophageal varices with a high probability of bursting and bleeding. There is a breakdown of toxins, the purification of blood is not possible, clotting proteins are produced by the liver and the liver absorbs fat-soluble vitamins and fats leading to the development of liver cirrhosis. The patient has a decreased appetite, loses weight, has itchy skin and is generally weak. Nose bleeds, anorexia, jaundice and small arteries underneath the skin which are spider-shaped are also symptoms of liver cirrhosis. In the late stages, a patient has abdominal and leg swelling, they become impotent, thinking clearly becomes difficult and the male become develop gynecomastia.

Most complications in liver cirrhosis are related to the flow of blood that includes portal hypertension and swelling of the abdomen and the legs. The spleen can also enlarge as a result of a decrease in white blood cells and platelets. The bursting of the veins cause bleeding which can be severe and life-threatening if the esophagus or the stomach ruptures. Bleeding is also triggered by infections caused by bacteria and a continued bleeding occurs when the liver is unable to cause enough clotting (Wiest, Lawson, & Geuking, 2014). Infections and malnutrition are common complications to liver cirrhosis patients as well as toxins building up in the brains due to the liver being unable to clear blood. The toxins cause mental confusion and concentration is difficult to the patients. The symptoms range from fatigue, impairments that are mild, unresponsiveness to

coma. There is a high risk of bone fractures as a result of a loss in bone strength and an increase in the risk of liver cancer. The risk of multi-organ failure or acute-on-chronic liver failure is high in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.
Currently, there is no cure for liver cirrhosis but it is possible to manage the symptoms and complications, hence, slow the progression of the disease. The liver may be prevented from getting more damaged through the treatment of the underlying conditions like the treatment of hepatitis C infections (Tsochatzis, Bosch, & Burroughs, 2014). The use of hemodialysis to purify the blood, antibiotics for peritonitis, procedures of banding for controlling bleeding and beta blockers or nitrates for portal hypertension are common treatments of liver cirrhosis. Patients are also advised to stop taking alcohol and reduce weight if the main causes are related to these factors. A liver transplant is necessary for the advanced stages of the disease and if the liver stops functioning. Patients should also be careful and prevent themselves from getting exposed to conditions that may lead to chronic infections like Hepatitis B and C. Getting vaccinated to Hepatitis B and eating a healthy balanced diet is also recommended to these patients.

Conclusion

The scarring of the liver due to damaged cells causes complications which can only be managed since treatment of liver cirrhosis is not possible. The liver has a lot of functions in the body that vital for body sustenance, hence, it is an important organ. High alcohol intake and being obese are high-risk factors to patients with liver cirrhosis whereby weight loss and lack of alcohol intake is recommended. Bacterial

infections and bleeding which sometimes life is threatening are some of the complications experienced by liver cirrhosis patients. Symptoms of the disease only appear in the later stages of the disease after the liver has been damaged. Prevention of disease is important since there is no cure at the present.

References

1. Tsochatzis, E. A., Bosch, J., & Burroughs, A. K. (2014). Liver cirrhosis. The Lancet, 383(9930), 1749-1761.
2. Wiest, R., Lawson, M., & Geuking, M. (2014). Pathological bacterial translocation in liver cirrhosis. Journal of hepatology, 60(1), 197-209.
3. Mokdad, A. A., Lopez, A. D., Shahraz, S., Lozano, R., Mokdad, A. H., Stanaway, J., ... & Naghavi, M. (2014). Liver cirrhosis mortality in 187 countries between 1980 and 2010: a systematic analysis. BMC medicine, 12(1), 1.