Viral cirrhosis of the liver
Content:
- What is viral cirrhosis of the liver?
- Symptoms of viral cirrhosis of the liver
- Causes of viral cirrhosis of the liver
- Treatment of viral cirrhosis of the liver
- Prevention of viral cirrhosis
What is viral cirrhosis of the liver?
Viral cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease in which an organ is damaged with the replacement of healthy tissue with fibrous fibers and the death of functional cells - hepatocytes. The etiology of the pathological process lies in a viral infection.
Statistics indicate that in 55% of all cases of disease formation, the cause is viral hepatitis. Hepatitis C, which has a high degree of activity, accounts for 21% of all patients with cirrhosis. However, hepatitis A, B and D viruses are also dangerous. In addition, modern scientists have identified hepatitis G, which also leads to a chronic destructive process in the liver and the development of cirrhosis.
Most often, the disease affects people of young and middle age, in most cases these are males.
Symptoms of viral cirrhosis of the liver
Despite the fact that the disease is caused by different types of viruses, the clinical picture looks quite the same.
Among the main symptoms:
- Previously transferred or currently available hepatitis virus;
- Complaints about a feeling of weakness, increased fatigue, decreased performance;
- The appearance of pain in the right hypochondrium;
- Nausea, sometimes interspersed with vomiting;
- Gastrointestinal disorders: bitter taste in the mouth, diarrhea and constipation, increased gas production, loss of appetite;
- Decrease in body weight;
- Development of mild jaundice;
- Increased bleeding of the gums, nosebleeds;
- Joint pain;
- Varicose veins of the esophagus and stomach. Doctors with viral cirrhosis observe this symptom much earlier than with alcohol. However, ascites, as a complication of the disease, is formed, on the contrary, less often.
As the pathological process develops and the damaged liver tissue dies, the symptomatology increases. Internal bleeding may open, feces acquire a light shade, and urine, on the contrary, darkens. The pain intensifies, the body temperature is kept at high levels. On average, the patient's life expectancy after diagnosis is 8-12 years.
Causes of viral cirrhosis of the liver
The cause of the development of the disease is the infection of the body with one or another hepatitis virus. They, in turn, begin to damage hepatocytes, thereby causing an inflammatory response and the formation of an autoimmune response. As a result, the body begins to perceive liver cells damaged by hepatitis as foreign and strives to actively destroy them. Necrosis grows, and the organ ceases to cope with the functions assigned to it. In addition, the hepatitis C and D viruses themselves have a destructive and toxic effect on liver tissue.
Among the risk factors for the development of the disease:
- Using non-sterile injecting syringes;
- The fact of a contaminated blood transfusion;
- Unprotected sexual intercourse;
- Failure to comply with the rules of personal hygiene (using someone else's scissors, toothbrush, etc.);
- Possibility of intrauterine infection.
In addition to hepatitis viruses, viruses such as herpes virus, HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, cytomegalovirus and others lead to the development of cirrhosis, although very rarely. They account for up to 5% of all viral cirrhosis.
Treatment of viral cirrhosis of the liver
For treatment, the following medications are used:
- Drugs fighting the virus: Pegasis, Copegus, Interferon, Inron, Laferon in combination with Lamivudine (with hepatitis B virus) or in combination with Ribavirin (with hepatitis C virus);
- Hepatoprotective drugs: Essentiale Forte N (in the absence of cholestasis), Glutargin, Ursosan, Ursofalk, Sirepar, Legalon, Carsil and others. More about hepatoprotectors used in liver cirrhosis;
- Detoxifying drugs: Rheosorbilact, Ringer's solution;
- Sorbent preparations: Smecta, activated or white carbon;
- Enzymes: Pancreatin, Mezim, Creon, Enzistal;
- Diuretics: Furosemide, Diacarb, Trifas, spironolactones, etc.;
- Drugs that help to reduce pressure in the portal vein: Anaprilin, Nitrosorbide, etc.;
- With a decrease in protein levels and the development of edema, albumin is prescribed;
- Vitamins and trace elements with antioxidant effect: Alvitil, Unicap, Tocopherol, Namatsit, Triovit;
- Drugs that can relieve liver intoxication: Ornicetil, Citrarginine.
If it is impossible to stop the progression of cirrhosis with the use of medication, the only option is surgery, namely liver transplantation.
In addition, the patient must refuse to take alcoholic beverages and follow a certain dietary diet. The ban includes fatty meats and fish, legumes, mushrooms, canned food and sausages, carbonated drinks and juices. It is allowed to include in the daily menu light soups with vegetable broth, lean meat, cooked vegetables and fruits, chicken egg white, dried bread. If it is possible to achieve a stable remission, then the patient's menu can be somewhat diversified.
On the subject: Diet for liver cirrhosis - what can you eat and what not?
Prevention of viral cirrhosis
Any healthy person can prevent the development of the disease, it is enough just to adhere to simple preventive measures, including:
- Strict adherence to the rules of personal hygiene;
- Refusal from bad habits, in particular, from the use of alcohol and drugs;
- Use of disposable medical instruments and equipment;
- Operation of personal cosmetics and devices for intimate hygiene;
- Sexual intercourse protected with a condom.
This will allow avoiding infection with viral hepatitis, which means preventing the development of the disease and its complications, including liver cancer, internal bleeding, hepatic coma, liver failure, peritonitis and many others. The prognosis of the course of viral cirrhosis is largely determined by the adequacy of the therapy, the stage of the disease and the patient's lifestyle.
The author of the article: Gorshenina Elena Ivanovna | Gastroenterologist
Education: Diploma in the specialty "General Medicine" received at the Russian State Medical University named after N. I. Pirogova (2005). Postgraduate studies in the specialty "Gastroenterology" - educational and scientific medical center.
