Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver with medication and folk remedies, diet and exercise. How to treat cirrhosis of the liver? Medical, surgical and folk remedies Treatment for cirrhosis of the liver

Cirrhosis is a dangerous chronic disease that affects the liver cells and leads to a violation of its functionality. There are many factors that can provoke the development of this disease, but most often it occurs with hepatitis C and chronic alcoholism. Considering that in most cases this pathology proceeds in a complicated form and entails various health problems, people suffering from it often wonder if cirrhosis of the liver can be treated and how complications can be prevented against its background. This is what will be discussed now.

To answer the question of whether cirrhosis of the liver can be cured, it is first necessary to understand the mechanism of its development. As already mentioned, various reasons can provoke the development of the disease. Among them are:

intoxication of the body against the background of long-term use of drugs, radiation, exposure to chemicals and vapors;
fatty degeneration of the liver resulting from obesity or the development of type 1 and type 2 diabetes;
heart failure complicated by congestion in the liver;
cirrhotic degeneration of the liver;
portal vein thrombosis;
disturbed metabolism of fats in the body;
pathology of the biliary system;
hepatitis C;
alcohol addiction, etc.

What happens to the liver when exposed to these factors? Pathological processes begin to develop in it, which entail the death of its cells. As a result of this, “holes” appear in the body, which it tries to “patch”. To do this, the liver begins to build up its walls with connective tissue. The integrity of the organ is restored, but its functions, unfortunately, are not. Replacement tissue cannot perform the functions of dead cells. The liver tries to compensate for this by starting to work in an accelerated mode. As a result, the organ is overloaded, pathological processes in its parenchyma are intensified, large-scale cell death occurs, the connective tissue grows, and liver dysfunction occurs.

Is cirrhosis treatable or not?

Considering all of the above and answering the question of whether cirrhosis of the liver is curable, it should immediately be said that this disease, unfortunately, cannot be cured. But that doesn't mean it shouldn't be treated. Everyone has a chance to prevent its progression and the occurrence of complications against its background. The main thing is to strictly follow all the recommendations of the doctor.

There is only one way to cure cirrhosis of the 4th degree - by liver transplantation. But, firstly, this is a rather expensive operation and is far from accessible to everyone, secondly, the probability that the transplanted liver will take root is 50%, and thirdly, there are high risks of postoperative complications that can cause sudden death or the development of other, no less serious diseases.

Before performing liver transplantation, it is necessary to undergo a detailed examination

It is also possible to stop further destruction of the organ by medication, but only if cirrhosis is detected at the initial stage of its development. In a neglected form, specialists can only relieve symptoms and only temporarily slow down the development of complications.

However, every year in the press there is information that cirrhosis is treated, and for this it is simply necessary to take special drugs. They were mentioned in one newspaper back in 2011. It described scientific experiments that were carried out by Siberian scientists. According to them, a remedy for cirrhosis has already been found, but so far they are not going to release it for sale, since it has not been finalized.

The mechanism of these drugs is simple. With cirrhosis, there is a constant replacement of healthy cells with connective tissue. These drugs are able to start reverse processes in the liver, thereby restoring its integrity and functionality.

Such statements of scientists give great hope to all patients. However, until now, this medicine has not been marketed and is not used in clinics. And he has no analogues. Therefore, liver treatment is carried out by standard methods. And arguing about whether it is possible to cure cirrhosis, we can say that at the moment it is impossible to get rid of it without organ transplantation. But scientists are still struggling to create this drug and give us hope that soon the answer to this question will change dramatically.

How dangerous is cirrhosis of the liver?

The danger of cirrhosis lies in the fact that at the initial stage of its development it does not give any symptoms. It can only be detected by passing a computer examination (CT, MRI or ultrasound). Therefore, doctors recommend that all people, without exception, undergo a full medical examination every year in order to detect the disease in a timely manner and begin its treatment.

To make it clear how dangerous cirrhosis of the liver is, it is necessary to study the mortality statistics for this disease. And it shows that every 100 people aged 35-55 die from this disease in just a few years after the diagnosis. And if we talk about how long people with cirrhosis live, then it should be said that everything here depends on several factors - age, the course of the disease, the presence of complications against its background, etc.

Unfortunately, with cirrhosis in the liver, irreversible processes occur, sooner or later leading to complete dysfunction of the organ.

Despite the fact that cirrhosis is not curable, the prognosis for its diagnosis is not always poor. Modern treatment provides compensation for dead liver cells. In other words, if they are preserved, timely drug therapy can prevent further destruction of the organ and replenish its functions with the help of special enzymes that are part of the drugs.

Cirrhosis has a chronic course, and it is characterized by frequent changes in periods of exacerbation and remission, when the general condition of the patient improves significantly, and the general indications of clinical and laboratory studies become much better.

In some cases, people have a slowdown in the progression of the disease. As a rule, this happens with inactive cirrhosis, which is characterized by long stages of remission, lasting several years. And relapses occur only after errors in nutrition or non-compliance with clinical recommendations given by the doctor, as well as as a result of the development of severe infectious diseases.

The average life expectancy of a person suffering from cirrhosis is 5 years after diagnosis. However, the impact of some factors can shorten or prolong the life of the patient.

These factors include:

degree and severity of cirrhosis;
the presence of complications and their severity;
reasons for the development of the disease;
age and gender of the patient;
the patient's attitude to the doctor's prescriptions.

Cirrhosis is an incurable disease

There are several varieties of cirrhosis, on which the speed of its course and the life expectancy of the patient also depend. According to the severity of development, cirrhosis has several types:

Compensated. The liver is still able to produce cells that replace the dead ones. The average life expectancy for compensated cirrhosis is 8–10 years.
Subcompensated. There is a shortage of healthy cells, they begin to deplete and die in even greater quantities. With such cirrhosis, people live on average for about 5 years.
decompensated. Accompanied by various complications that complicate the treatment of cirrhosis. Most often, it is accompanied by ascites, which is characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity and can provoke the development of peritonitis. In this case, life expectancy averages from 1 to 6 months. If there are no such serious complications with decompensated cirrhosis, a person with such a diagnosis can live for about 2-3 years.

Also, cirrhosis is often accompanied by internal hemorrhages. They are especially dangerous when they arise in the gastrointestinal tract or form from the veins of the esophagus. Mortality in these cases reaches 40%.

Another common complication of cirrhosis is hepatic encephalopathy. With this diagnosis, the average life expectancy is 6–12 months. How long a patient with cirrhosis will live also depends on the cause of the disease. The most favorable is alcoholic cirrhosis, which occurs after alcohol entering the body in large quantities, and the biliary (autoimmune) form of the disease.

A feature of alcoholic cirrhosis is that a significant improvement in the patient's condition is noted immediately after giving up alcoholic beverages. Life expectancy in this case can increase by 10 years or more.

With the development of autoimmune cirrhosis, it is unfortunately not possible to eliminate the impact of a negative factor on the body. However, with this form of the disease, people live for about 6-7 years from the onset of primary symptoms.

Viral cirrhosis has a poor prognosis. With this disease, patients live no more than 2 years. There is also such a thing as cardiac cirrhosis, which develops against the background of prolonged heart failure and is characterized by a global change in the structure of the organ. With this form of the disease, the average life expectancy is 2-4 years.

Unfortunately, cirrhosis is an incurable disease. And do not believe the rumors that there have been cases of cure for this disease. They happen only after liver transplantation. In all other cases, patients can prolong their lives in only one way - by following all the doctor's recommendations, undergoing full courses of treatment in a hospital and strictly following a diet.

Treatment Methods

Treatment of cirrhosis must be periodically carried out in a hospital. This should be done every 3-6 months, depending on the type of disease. At home, it is also necessary to carry out some measures that will reduce the symptoms of the disease and prevent its further progression.

The standard of treatment for cirrhosis includes the rejection of alcoholic beverages (this applies not only to alcoholic cirrhosis, but also to its other types), diet (in this case, treatment table No. 5 is prescribed) and regular medication.

All drugs are prescribed individually, depending on the form of cirrhosis.

If a person has been diagnosed with viral cirrhosis, then he is prescribed antiviral drugs aimed at destroying the virus in the body that destroys liver cells. In the case of drug-induced cirrhosis, you will need to stop taking the drug that provoked its development. In the autoimmune form of the disease, drugs are prescribed to suppress the immune system.

If proper nutrition and medication do not give positive dynamics, then in the absence of contraindications, surgical treatment is carried out, during which portal systems are used - organopexy, ligation of the branches of the celiac artery, porto-caval vascular anastomoses, splenectomy.

If you have also been diagnosed with cirrhosis, then you should study in more detail the clinics where this disease is treated. It is important that they are equipped with all the necessary equipment, and the treatment is carried out by highly qualified specialists who know their business and will help prevent the development of complications even at the last stage of the disease. To do this, carefully study the reviews about the clinics, talk to people who have been treated in them, and personally visit the hospitals and get to know the doctors. These manipulations will help you choose a clinic where you will definitely be helped.

Does it make sense to resort to the help of alternative medicine?

With chronic liver damage, many people prefer to treat folk remedies. However, non-traditional methods of treatment in this case are ineffective. They are recommended to be used only for the prevention of illness or complications, as they act very slowly.

Since cirrhosis is often complicated by ascites, in this case it is recommended to carry out additional therapy with herbs that have a diuretic effect and help strengthen the vascular walls (blue cornflower, fennel, etc.). However, before using alternative treatment, be sure to consult with your doctor. Since the improper use of herbs and their interaction with certain drugs can lead to a sharp deterioration in well-being and the occurrence of serious complications.

Cirrhosis of the liver is a dangerous disease that requires long-term treatment. It will not be possible to completely cure it, since the gland undergoes irreversible changes. However, adequate therapy can slow down or stop cirrhotic processes.

Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver should be comprehensive: diet, medication, a healthy lifestyle. In some cases, you can not do without surgical intervention. In addition, folk remedies are used in the fight against the disease. However, you should consult your doctor before using them.

Cirrhosis is characterized by fibrotic changes in the liver tissue.

With cirrhosis, structural changes in the tissues of the organ occur. That is, there is a replacement of healthy liver tissues with useless connective tissue. Sclerotic areas compress healthy hepatocytes, causing their death. For this reason, the disease can gradually develop even after the root cause is eliminated (for example, avoiding alcohol). This disease threatens with dangerous complications, more about which. Therefore, treatment should be started as early as possible.

First of all, it is necessary to identify the cause of the development of cirrhotic changes. These can be diseases of viral origin, liver injuries, poisoning of the gland with chemicals or strong drugs, autoimmune pathologies. But most often, cirrhosis occurs after alcohol, if a person consumes it in large doses and regularly.

At first, the disease proceeds latently, the first symptoms appear when more than ¼ of the organ area is replaced. Then the patient's palms turn red, the skin of the face, the veins protrude from under the skin of the abdomen, jaundice appears, appetite and weight decrease, nausea, vomiting, etc.

To conduct effective treatment, you need to determine the type of cirrhosis. There are several classifications of pathology, which can be read about in this article.

Can the disease be cured?

Many patients are concerned about whether cirrhosis can be cured. Despite the constant development of modern medicine, this pathology is included in the category of incurable. However, therapy is necessary, as it helps to slow down or stop the development of the pathological process, prolong the life of the patient.

If cirrhosis is detected at an early stage, it is possible to stop pathological processes

The most favorable prognosis is at the initial stage of the disease. However, the problem is that at an early stage, cirrhosis has a latent course. Therefore, many patients seek medical help with a significant disruption of the gland. Then it is impossible to restore its work. At an early stage, the disease is discovered by chance, during laboratory or instrumental studies.

Many patients are interested in the question of which doctor treats cirrhosis. When pain occurs in the right side, patients turn to a therapist who refers them to a hepatologist or gastroenterologist.

It is necessary to treat cirrhosis of the liver comprehensively, that is, the patient must not only take medication, but also follow the doctor's recommendations on lifestyle changes. This is necessary to stop the development of pathology.

Treatment of cirrhosis should be comprehensive

Competent treatment consists of the following points:

Medical therapy.
Strict diet.
Physiotherapy.
Moderate physical activity.
Surgical treatment (liver transplantation if necessary).

Important. During treatment, it is necessary to completely abandon alcoholic drugs and avoid contact with toxic substances that aggravate the patient's condition. In addition, it is necessary to protect the body from infection with viral hepatitis.

Treatment of compensated cirrhosis

The treatment regimen depends on the level of activity of cirrhotic changes. At the inactive stage of the disease, most of the hepatocytes are still preserved, they perform their functions, although the first pathological changes appear. Then the metabolic processes of the liver cells are disrupted, and connective tissue is formed in the place of the dead hepatocytes. There are no severe symptoms, so the patient can stay at home.

Vitamin preparations are used to treat cirrhosis at an early stage.

Compensated cirrhosis is curable, or rather, it will not be possible to completely restore the functioning of the liver, but cirrhotic changes can be stopped. For this purpose, patients are prescribed vitamin preparations that normalize liver metabolism.

The standard of care early on is diet. It is important to strictly follow the rules of nutrition in order to avoid exacerbation of cirrhosis and the appearance of complications incompatible with life. The patient must completely abandon the products that load the organs of the hepatobiliary tract.

To cure compensated cirrhosis, you need to limit the intake of drugs. This is especially true for those drugs that are metabolized in the gland and are toxic to it (for example, antibacterial agents). The decision to prescribe medications is made exclusively by the attending physician.

Important. It is necessary to constantly monitor the condition of the liver. If the pathological process is activated, then it is necessary to adjust the treatment regimen, as well as prescribe more active medications.

Treatment of pathology of moderate activity

At the second stage, the process of replacing healthy tissue with connective tissue predominates. Then hepatocytes suffer from a lack of energy, in order to make up for it, the following drugs are prescribed:

B vitamins, ascorbic acid, rutin.
Lipoic acid belongs to the group of hepatoprotectors, it protects hepatocytes and promotes the restoration of the gland.
Herbal medicines.

At stage 2 of the pathology, various drugs are used.

You need to be treated comprehensively, that is, take not 1 drug, but several. Each medication helps to cope with a particular problem.

Reference. The therapeutic course for cirrhosis lasts 30-60 days. If this period is reduced, then the result of treatment will be short-lived.

If cirrhosis occurs against the background of viral hepatitis C, B, then the patient is prescribed Prednisolone. This medication reduces the activity of autoimmune processes that occur in the body.

Reference. With hepatitis C or B, the pathological process develops not because viruses damage hepatocytes, but because they invade cell membranes and make them foreign to the body. Then the immune system damages the liver tissue.

With a decrease in the concentration of platelets, erythrocytes, leukocytes, immunity also begins to act against its own antigens. In this case, it is necessary to be treated with high doses of prednisolone, since this drug eliminates inflammatory processes.

Actions for decompensated cirrhosis

When cirrhosis is diagnosed at a late, decompensated stage, everything is much more complicated. Medicines help only eliminate the unpleasant symptoms of the disease. To stop inflammation, hormonal drugs are used: Prednisolone or Delagil. These medicines provide artificial immunosuppression, that is, they suppress the immune system. Due to this effect, they reduce inflammatory reactions, swelling of the liver tissues, and relieve pain.

With ascites, excess fluid from the abdominal cavity is removed through small punctures in the abdomen.

Hepatoprotectors (Essentiale, Karsil) normalize the functionality of liver cells. If the patient is in serious condition, then solutions of glucose, potassium, magnesium, calcium are administered to him using a dropper. This is necessary to restore the electrolyte balance, which is disturbed during pathology.

Important. Alcoholic cirrhosis does not make sense to treat if the patient has not given up drinking alcohol. Then he is treated for alcohol addiction.

For the treatment of viral cirrhosis, only effective antiviral drugs are used.

To cure ascites, which is characteristic of portal cirrhosis, it is necessary to remove the accumulated fluid from the abdominal space. For this, diuretics are used, which retain potassium in the body. If the medications are ineffective, then the ascitic fluid is removed through punctures in the abdomen. Treatment is carried out in a hospital.

With cirrhosis, blood clotting often decreases, so patients are prescribed a transfusion of red blood cells, blood plasma, or albumin (protein) solutions. This is necessary to avoid hemorrhages from varicose veins.

Reference. With hemorrhoids, which often complicates cirrhosis, emollient, wound-healing ointments, analgesic suppositories are shown.

Biliary cirrhosis requires a diet. The patient should reduce the amount of fat in the menu, the optimal dose is about 40-50 g of vegetable fats. To avoid further death of liver cells, vitamin E and C are used, which improve the condition of blood vessels and are antioxidants. Solutions of vitamins A, K, D are administered by the parenteral method. This is necessary in order to normalize metabolic processes and stabilize the condition. In some cases, doctors prescribe medications that bind bile acids.

Nutrition rules

Without following the diet, other treatments will not be effective. Proper nutrition allows you to unload the liver, normalize metabolism, accelerate the recovery of hepatocytes, and prevent dangerous complications.

Diet is the most important condition in the treatment of cirrhosis

Important. With cirrhosis, the patient must follow diet No. 5, which was developed by M. I. Pevzner.

According to her, the patient should exclude from the menu products that irritate the digestive tract, increase the amount of food rich in proteins, carbohydrates, and also reduce the concentration of fats by 30%. The daily portion of salt is no more than 1-2 teaspoons. The optimal number of calories is 2500-3000 per day. For 24 hours, the patient should drink at least 1.5 liters of fluid. All food must be ground before use and consumed exclusively warm.

Allowed foods, dishes and drinks in the treatment of cirrhosis:

Soups with vegetables, cereals, fruits, milk, but without the introduction of frying.
Meat, low-fat fish (rabbit, beef, turkey, hake, pollock, etc.).
An egg can only be eaten in the form of a protein omelette cooked in a slow cooker.
Vegetable salad dressed with vegetable oil.
Stale or dried bread, biscuit cookies.
Sour-milk products with a low percentage of fat content (milk, kefir, cottage cheese, non-spicy cheeses).
Dairy, vegetable sauces, hand-made from natural products.
Sweet fruit sauces.
The patient can eat dried fruits, fruit, berry puree, natural juice jelly (limited amount).
It is allowed to drink compotes, fresh juices (diluted by half with water), a decoction of rose hips, weak tea, etc.

List of prohibited products:

Fresh pastries (bread, fancy, sand products), fried pies.
Soups based on fatty broth, borscht.
Fatty meats, fish.
Legumes, white cabbage, spinach, sorrel, radish, garlic, mushrooms, etc.
Pickled or canned products.
Sausages, smoked meats.
Sour varieties of fruits, berries.
Milk with a high percentage of fat content and products based on it (sour cream, cream, cottage cheese, spicy cheese).
Eggs boiled or fried.
Spicy dishes, store-bought sauces, horseradish.
Confectionery: chocolate, cakes, cakes with rich cream, ice cream.
Alcoholic drinks, coffee, cocoa, strong tea, soda.

Attention. Products are allowed to be boiled, steamed or baked (using a minimum amount of oil, salt, seasonings). You need to eat from 4 to 6 times a day, in small portions (about 300 g), preferably at the same time.

Surgery

There is no guarantee that cirrhosis can be cured with surgery. Even such a radical method as a liver transplant is not always effective. After the operation, the patient's condition improves, for a short time. Already after 3-5 years, 80% of patients have an increased risk of re-development of cirrhosis. Then the treatment starts again.

Liver transplantation is the most radical treatment for cirrhosis.

As a rule, transplantation is performed when conservative treatment has failed and the organ continues to deteriorate.

Attention. Liver transplantation is contraindicated in such cases: liver cancer with secondary tumor foci, severe heart disease, lung disease, overweight, infections, inflammation of the brain, etc.

In other cases, surgery is performed to treat complications of cirrhosis. For this purpose, the bile ducts are cleaned, stagnation of the hepatic secretion is eliminated, etc.

Cirrhosis of the 4th degree is not treated surgically, since at this stage the patient's body is already greatly weakened. Therefore, the operation will only aggravate his condition.

Folk remedies

Treatment of cirrhosis can be carried out at home with the help of folk remedies and medicinal herbs. However, alternative treatment should be used as part of complex therapy. Plant-based recipes support the functioning of the liver, increase the body's defenses, normalize the state of the blood, etc.

A decoction of milk thistle seeds is an effective remedy for supporting a damaged gland in cirrhosis.

Popular prescriptions for the treatment of cirrhosis are as follows.

Decoction of milk thistle seeds:

Pour 1 tbsp. a spoonful of crushed fruits 500 ml of water, simmer over low heat until the volume of liquid is halved.
Filter, cool the drink, take 3-4 tbsp. spoons three times a day before a meal.

Reference. Means based on milk thistle slow down the development of the disease, prevent complications, protect hepatocytes, accelerate the removal of toxins, and improve blood composition.

Oat infusion:

Pour a handful of straw with 1 liter of boiling water, cover and leave for 60 minutes.
Strain and then consume in small sips throughout the day.

Dandelion juice is effective in the compensated stage of cirrhosis. It normalizes the functions of the gland, protects the liver cells, accelerates their recovery. Juice is squeezed from fresh leaves and taken in 2-3 tbsp. spoons on an empty stomach once.

Turmeric infusion:

Dilute 1 teaspoon of turmeric in 220 ml of hot water, leave for 10-15 minutes.
Then add some honey there, drink on an empty stomach in the morning and evening.

Reference. Turmeric is a powerful antioxidant that cleanses the body of toxins and reduces inflammation. In addition, this tool accelerates the excretion of bile, preventing stagnant processes.

Infusion of celandine:

Pour 1 teaspoon of dry celandine flowers with 220 ml of boiling water, wrap and leave.
After 20 minutes, strain, and then take 25 ml before a meal.

Reference. Celandine is used for viral cirrhosis, it is able to quickly improve the patient's condition.

There are still a huge number of prescriptions for the treatment of cirrhosis. However, it should be remembered that folk remedies have their own contraindications and can aggravate the course of the disease. In addition, the body of each patient is individual - what suits another is a danger to another. Therefore, folk remedies can be used only after the approval of the doctor.

The filtering organ of a person is the liver, when failures occur in it, this can result in serious diseases. One of the most common and dangerous is cirrhosis. When it affects the cells of the interstitial space, which quickly replace their healthy counterparts. Many people have a question: is cirrhosis of the liver treated? The answer can be found below.

In the course of the disease, the structure of the liver changes, a seal is observed in it, tubercles appear on the surface, and because of this, it cannot perform its activities.

Cirrhosis occurs for various reasons, but the most common of them is the penetration of the hepatitis virus into the body. In 97% of cases, the disease manifests itself in hepatitis C.

They are interrelated, but regardless of the stages of the development of the disease, common symptoms are distinguished:

After diagnosis, there is an increase in the spleen, liver and deformation of the surface of the latter.

Cirrhosis of the liver can occur for several years, from the onset of the disease to its severe form, there are 4 stages:

compensatory. This initial stage of cirrhosis is curable, it is asymptomatic, as healthy liver cells try to fully compensate for the work of their affected counterparts. According to the results of the blood, it can be established that the level of bilirubin in it is below normal.
Subcompensated. At this stage, pronounced symptoms of the disease appear, the sick person experiences weakness and begins to lose weight. In the liver, there is a noticeable lack of proteins, which leads to swelling, regardless of the time of day. There may be discomfort in the right side, after the test, a low level of albumin and bilirubin is observed.
decompensated. It is often accompanied by internal bleeding, the body becomes yellow, after diagnosis it is found that the liver tissue has scars, due to which this organ ceases to perform its functions. The level of albumin and the prothrombin index are significantly reduced.
Last stage entails irreversible changes in the body and can turn into a hepatic coma. With it, varicose veins appear on the organs located in the abdominal cavity. It is completely impossible to recover at this stage. Late symptoms of the disease are bloating, the appearance of varicose veins, frequent bleeding of the mouth and gums, dark urine, nausea and accompanying vomiting, and sometimes hemorrhoids appear.

If there are suspicions of cirrhosis of the liver, in order to avoid unpleasant and severe consequences, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Each of the first three stages of the disease can last for several years, with stage 4 the disease progresses at an accelerated pace.

Types of cirrhosis of the liver

The disease in question can be cured if its type is correctly determined and an effective therapy is selected:

Cirrhosis is also subdivided according to the way the disease progresses.:

Active- with it, the symptoms are pronounced, the disease progresses rapidly. Treatment is possible only in a hospital.
Inactive- there are no inflammatory processes, the tissues in the liver are slightly changed. This type can be treated at home.

Against the background of acquired forms of liver cirrhosis, there is also congenital, which is the result of genetic pathologies such as tyrosinosis, hemochromatosis and others.

Can cirrhosis be cured?

The liver is a unique organ with a high ability to recover, if one of its cells is damaged, the rest multiply with powerful force and take the vacant place. It is this property that guarantees that those who treat it will be able to quickly restore the functionality of the filtering organ.

If the disease is advanced and there are much more damaged cells than healthy ones, then the process begins to acquire a pathological character. The dead areas of the liver are replaced by fibrous connective tissue, then strands appear in these places, forming recovery nodes - false lobules of the organ.

Growing, they accelerate the death of hepatocytes (liver cells), contribute to liver failure and lead to serious complications.

Diagnostics

At an early stage, it is problematic to identify the disease, you should undergo an ultrasound of the liver, as well as use radionuclide and X-ray diagnostic methods. Computed tomography will help determine the disease.

Among these methods, ultrasound and tomography are considered the most accurate., and the radionuclide method allows errors, but if applied, it is possible to objectively assess the work of the liver.

At the final stage of the survey is applied. With it, tissue samples of the organ in question are taken from certain sections of it.

After all the studies, it will be possible to judge whether or not the ongoing process in the liver is curable, according to the results of the tests, the further life expectancy of the patient is determined.

Often an accurate diagnosis depends on a biochemical blood test, after which it is possible to determine the content of bilirubin in the liver.

Treatment

There are no methods for restoring degenerate cells, but it is possible to slow down the process of their change, maintain the functionality of the liver and prolong the life of the sick person by applying time-tested treatment methods.

A complex approach

It consists of giving up bad habits, this applies to drinking alcohol in unlimited quantities, refusing to take harmful medications. If a person is sick with hepatitis, then it is first necessary to recover from it.

After identifying the disease, the patient's daily loads should be corrected, rest more often and limit physical activity, switch to dietary nutrition, eliminate food containing a lot of protein and fatty foods from the diet.

Medical therapy

It is used without fail at the second stage of the disease and is aimed at reducing the main manifestations of cirrhosis. Taking medication stimulates metabolic processes in hepatocytes, which leads to the strengthening of liver membranes.

Drug therapy includes the use of hormonal and antidepressant drugs, if infectious diseases appear during treatment, then antibiotics are required.

Medicines and their composition are selected depending on the stage of cirrhosis:

Special drugs are prescribed only in case of exacerbation of the disease. Prescribe also sorbents and enzymes that prevent intoxication of the whole organism.

Surgery is used as a last resort, during which a liver transplant occurs or the affected part is removed from a healthy organ.

Folk remedies

If there are no pronounced pathologies and most of the liver cells are preserved, then you can resort to homemade recipes, which are often used to treat women. Together with them, it is imperative to take a vitamin-mineral complex, it must contain folic acid and B vitamins.

Several homemade recipes:

The pharmacy has ready-made herbal kits that help normalize the activity of the liver, they may contain such plants: birch castings, chamomile, St. John's wort, wild rose and others.

In order to protect yourself and not face cirrhosis of the liver, it is recommended to reconsider your lifestyle, not to take a lot of medicines at once, to exclude fatty and fried foods from the diet. This disease is curable , if you start therapy on time, and not start it.

Judging by the fact that you are now reading these lines, victory in the fight against liver diseases is not on your side yet ...

Have you thought about surgery yet? It is understandable, because the liver is a very important organ, and its proper functioning is the key to health and well-being. Nausea and vomiting, yellowish skin tone, bitterness in the mouth and bad smell, dark urine and diarrhea... All these symptoms are familiar to you firsthand.

But perhaps it is more correct to treat not the consequence, but the cause? We recommend reading the story of Olga Krichevskaya, how she cured her liver...

Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic disease caused by the progressive replacement of the parenchymal tissue of the liver with fibrous connective tissue, which results in a restructuring of its structure and a violation of actual functions. The main symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver are jaundice, an increase in the size of the liver and spleen, pain in the right hypochondrium.

general description

Cirrhosis of the liver is not just an irreversible disease of the liver, but also a serious threat to the life of a person with this disease. The process of the course of the disease is accompanied by the gradual death of the cells of this organ, as a result of which its size gradually decreases.

In addition, the process under consideration is also accompanied by serious violations, not only in the work of the liver itself, but also in the body as a whole. Her normal tissues in cirrhosis are replaced by nodes formed by abnormal cells, the same, in turn, do not perform any important work. As a result of such an increase in connective tissue, the vessels of the organ are squeezed, which causes necrosis of significant areas of the liver tissue.

By itself, the liver is the largest gland of the digestive system, it is located in the upper abdomen, on the right side of the diaphragm. The structure of this organ is lobed. The liver lobule contains liver cells (hepatocytes). Cirrhosis is precisely the changes that fall on this lobule (or rather, on its structure), as a result of which its subsequent abnormal degeneration occurs, accompanied by the formation of specific nodes.

It would not be superfluous to dwell not only on the features of the location of this organ, but also on those functions that, in fact, the liver performs. In particular, the following can be distinguished:

Removal from the body of allergens, poisons and toxins that enter from the external environment.
Removal of excess hormones from the body, as well as an excess of intermediate metabolic elements and vitamins.
Synthesis of carbohydrates, fats and proteins.
Regulation of the process of intake of sugar (glucose) in the body.
Creation of bile involved in the processes of digestion.
Synthesis of biologically active substances necessary for the body, such as blood coagulation factors, albumins, etc.

To perform these functions, liver cells must work in a normal way, because they are in close connection with the blood (substances removed and added during the work of the liver are transported to and from it through the blood).

So, for example, the main difference from most of our organs is that only a small amount of blood enters the liver through the arteries. Basically, blood flow occurs through the intestinal veins, when blood returns to the heart. The portal vein is the main vein that returns blood from the intestines. As it passes through the liver, this vein divides into many smaller veins. The smallest of them are defined as sinusoids, due to the uniqueness of their structure, they are also in direct contact with the liver cells.

The liver cells actually line up according to the length of the sinusoids, and it is this close connection that allows these cells to remove and add substances coming through the blood. After passing through the sinusoids of the blood, it is directed to large veins, which, in turn, form the hepatic vein - a single vein that ensures the return of blood to the heart.

Considering these processes with the relevance of cirrhosis, it can be noted that such a complex relationship between liver cells and blood is destroyed in this disease. And although those cells that survived under the influence of the processes accompanying this disease, as well as newly formed cells, can still remove and produce the required substances in direct connection with the blood, this connection is no longer normal.

In addition, the scars formed on the liver affected by cirrhosis act as a kind of barrier to the flow of blood flowing through it to the cells of this organ. As a result of such a barrier to blood flow, blood returns to the collar vein with a simultaneous increase in pressure in it, which is defined as . The high pressure and obstruction to the flow of blood causes it to search for other veins through which it will be possible to return to the heart, that is, veins with lower pressure, bypassing the liver.

The liver itself is not capable of removing or adding substances from the blood bypassing it. Accordingly, the manifestations of cirrhosis are provoked by a combination consisting of a reduced number of liver cells, the loss of adequate contact with the blood flow that passes through the liver, and the loss of this contact with the blood that bypasses it.

There is also another problem that occurs against the background of cirrhosis. It consists in a violation of the connection of liver cells with the channels through which bile passes. Bile is a liquid produced by the liver cells and performs two rather important functions for the body. These include, in particular, the assistance provided by bile to the digestive system, as well as its removal from the body of toxic substances.

Bile is secreted into very thin tubules that pass through the liver cells along the sinusoids. These tubules, in turn, already flow into small channels, which subsequently combine to form those channels that are large. Ultimately, there is a complex unification of all channels into one, which is also directly connected with the small intestine. Accordingly, such a scheme indicates the entry of bile into the intestines, and it is here that in a certain way it affects the processes of digestion of food, thereby helping them.

At the same time, the toxic substances that make up bile also end up in the intestines, through which they are subsequently excreted from the body by natural emptying (through the stool). Cirrhosis, on the other hand, leads to abnormal processes in these channels, resulting in a disruption of communication similar to the previous case. Thus, the liver loses the ability to naturally eliminate toxic substances from the body, and therefore they begin to accumulate in it. A certain decrease in the activity of digestive functions in the intestine is also noted against this background.

Causes of cirrhosis of the liver

Considering the causes that contribute to the appearance of cirrhosis of the liver, we can figuratively divide them into frequent, rare and very rare causes. Let's consider them in more detail.

Due to a decrease in the outflow of bile in combination with immune damage that has arisen from the pancreas, its insufficiency is noted. The respiratory system can be affected by interstitial, the formation of tumor processes in various areas is often noted.

The final stage of primary biliary cirrhosis determines a fairly detailed clinical picture. The course of jaundice may be accompanied in combination with the deposition of melanin in the skin. Xanthoma, xanthelasma, palmar erythema are subject to increase. Ultimately, ascites in combination with bleeding that occurred against the background of the stomach and esophagus, as well as hepatic coma or - all this leads to death.

Secondary biliary cirrhosis

Most often, the development of this type of cirrhosis occurs in patients who have previously undergone surgery (one or more) directly related to the biliary tract. The symptoms of this disease at its initial stage of the course largely coincide with the symptoms of the disease that provoked the actual obstruction (obstruction) of the biliary extrahepatic tract.

Soon after an acute form of extrahepatic obstruction, cholestatic hepatitis develops, and therefore focal necrosis forms in the centers of the lobules, and subsequently an inflammatory reaction develops in combination with fibrosis. Extrahepatic biliary obstruction over the next 2-7 years leads to the development of septal cirrhosis. As for a specific type of therapy for secondary biliary cirrhosis, it, as such, does not exist in principle.

Viral cirrhosis

Viral cirrhosis, as a rule, occurs in about 60% of cases against the background of viral chronic hepatitis, characterized by a significant degree of activity, somewhat less often - low. Over a period of about 5 years, up to 1% of patients who have previously had an anicteric or symptomatic form of hepatitis B or C also experience the development of viral cirrhosis of the liver.

In most cases, the disease develops gradually, it is characterized by the appearance of a non-specific type of complaints about decreased performance, weakness, flatulence and nausea, pain in the right hypochondrium, weight loss. The increase in these symptoms occurs simultaneously with the exacerbation of the disease in combination with the moderate development of jaundice. Also, an exacerbation can occur with an increase in hemorrhagic syndrome (arthralgia, bleeding, etc.).

Varicose veins of the cardia and esophagus occur in the case of viral cirrhosis much earlier and more often than in alcoholic cirrhosis, ascites also develops here less often and later. On average, life expectancy for patients is defined as 10-15 years from the moment they have been diagnosed with viral cirrhosis, but longer periods for this indicator are often noted.

Autoimmune cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver as an outcome of autoimmune hepatitis, that is, autoimmune cirrhosis, is usually a disease observed in the vast majority of cases among women (beginning / end of the reproductive period).

The characteristic features of this form of cirrhosis is its combination with various systemic extrahepatic lesions occurring in other systems and organs. In addition, a characteristic feature of the disease is the presence of specific autoantibodies that are very rare in the same viral cirrhosis. Subjective assessment of the condition of patients, despite the increased activity of hepatic pathology, in frequent cases for a long time determines their condition as satisfactory.

Achieving remission in autoimmune cirrhosis is possible with the appointment of large doses of hormones and with an increase in the duration of treatment.

Symptoms of hepatic coma

Hepatic coma, which is the current state of development of liver cirrhosis, proceeds in the following main stages.

Prekom. Hepatic coma begins from this stage, it can develop gradually. Manifestations are reduced to the appearance of anxiety, apathy or euphoria in the patient. A characteristic feature is a slowdown in thinking in patients, disturbances in orientation, and sleep disorders.
Threatening stage of hepatic coma, coma. Confusion of consciousness, spatio-temporal disorientation of the patient, change of attacks of excitation by depressions, drowsiness are noted. There is a tremor (trembling) of the hands. Consciousness during the development of hepatic coma is absent, the muscles of the neck and limbs are characterized by their own rigidity (hardening). The face becomes like a mask. The terminal period of this condition is accompanied by dilation of the pupils and the disappearance of the reaction to light, corneal reflexes gradually fade away, paralysis of the sphincters and subsequent cessation of breathing is noted.

There are other signs that indicate a general liver damage. These include jaundice, dark urine, discoloration of feces. A dirty coating appears on the tongue. Also, this manifestation of cirrhosis is accompanied by the appearance of a specific smell from the mouth (it resembles the smell of raw meat).

Diagnosis

To date, the most accurate method used in diagnosing cirrhosis is a biopsy in combination with a detailed survey of the patient regarding his lifestyle (alcohol consumption, features of professional activity, nutrition, regimen, etc.), diseases that were previously transferred and relevant at the time of the survey (hepatitis etc.).

Palpation of the liver is also mandatory, which is necessary to detect its increase. Possible external manifestations of the disease are also investigated (alcoholic cirrhosis is accompanied, for example, by the appearance of a cobweb of blood vessels on the skin). Again, the mucous membranes and skin of the patient are examined for the presence of jaundice, which, despite its occurrence in other diseases, also develops in cirrhosis.

Diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver is also carried out on the basis of ascites (edema of the peritoneum) in a patient. Endoscopy as a research method makes it possible to identify varicose veins of the esophagus. In addition, it is used, and, including, with whose help a decrease in blood levels of bilirubin and an increased content of iron, copper and enzymes are determined.

Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver

The basic principles applied in the treatment of cirrhosis are focused on eliminating the direct causes that led to the development of this disease, as well as on the development of a specific diet, vitamin therapy and the elimination of complications that accompany cirrhosis. Treatment of cirrhosis with folk remedies can justify itself only as an additional measure that determines some effectiveness only in the initial stages of the course of this disease.

Elimination of the causes that provoked cirrhosis

Alcoholic cirrhosis the liver provides for the complete refusal of the patient to drink alcohol, and also requires the appointment of detoxification therapy for him, aimed at removing from the body the products of its decay formed during the use of alcohol.

If cirrhosis arose against the background of exposure to viral hepatitis, then the treatment is initially focused on it. If the development of cirrhosis was the use of drugs ( drug-induced hepatitis) then the drug that provoked this disease is excluded from use.

Autoimmune cirrhosis appears due to increased aggressiveness on the part of the immune system, respectively, the treatment involves the use of immunosuppressants (drugs that have a suppressive effect on the immune system).

diet for cirrhosis

In any case, with cirrhosis, alcohol should be abandoned, in addition, seasoned, fried and fatty foods, as well as canned food, various types of sausages and smoked meats, are excluded. The exclusion of chocolate, tomato juice, garlic, mushrooms and tomatoes is recommended.

With the development of ascites in patients, the diet requires the exclusion of table salt from it.

You can eat cereals and vegetable soups, boiled meat (low-fat varieties), dairy products (fat-free), green apples, crackers, etc.

Nutrition for cirrhosis is carried out in small portions, 5-6 times a day.

Complication of cirrhosis: treatment

This manifestation is a component factor of portal hypertension, characterized, as we noted earlier, by an increase in the abdomen due to the accumulation of fluid in it. In the treatment of ascites, diuretics are used, that is, those medications that help remove excess fluid from the body with urine.

- Hepatic coma. In this case, the brain is affected, which occurs due to the accumulation of a significant amount of toxic substances in the blood. The development of this type of coma occurs mainly at the stage of decompensated cirrhosis, therefore the treatment is largely difficult and attempts to determine it in each case are strictly individual.

- Bleeding of the veins of the esophagus. It occurs due to their expansion and is a serious complication of the course of cirrhosis. Manifestations of bleeding are reduced to blackening of the stool or the release of blood through the mouth (hemesis). Treatment is through endoscopy or surgery.

- Liver cancer. The development of this disease occurs, as a rule, as a result of the development of cirrhosis against the background of exposure to viral hepatitis. Treatment in this case is determined by the oncologist.

Organ transplantation, that is, the liver itself, is used as a radical method of treatment for cirrhosis that is relevant for the patient.

Liver cirrhosis is diagnosed by a hepatologist.

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Joseph Addison

With the help of exercise and abstinence, most people can do without medicine.

Which doctor to contact

If you suspect a disease such as "Cirrhosis of the liver", you need to consult a doctor:

- This is a disease characterized by the degeneration of the parenchymal tissue of the liver into fibrous connective tissue. Accompanied by dull pain in the right hypochondrium, jaundice, increased pressure in the portal vein system with bleeding characteristic of portal hypertension (esophageal, hemorrhoidal), ascites, etc. The disease is chronic. In the diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver, the decisive role is played by the data of ultrasound, CI and MRI of the liver, indicators of biochemical samples, liver biopsy. Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver provides for a strict rejection of alcohol, dieting, taking hepatoprotectors; in severe cases, donor liver transplantation.

General information

Cirrhosis is characterized by the appearance of connective tissue nodes in the liver tissue, proliferation of connective tissue, and the formation of "false" lobules. Cirrhosis is distinguished by the size of the emerging nodes on small-nodular (many nodules up to 3 mm in diameter) and large-nodular (nodes exceed 3 mm in diameter). Changes in the structure of the body, unlike hepatitis, are irreversible, thus, cirrhosis of the liver is an incurable disease.

Among the causes of liver cirrhosis, alcohol abuse is in the lead (from 35.5% to 40.9% of patients). In second place is viral hepatitis C. In men, cirrhosis develops more often than in women, which is associated with a high prevalence of alcohol abuse in the male environment.

Causes

In the vast majority of cases, the cause of liver cirrhosis is alcohol abuse and viral hepatitis B and C, less often fermentopathy:

Alcohol addiction. Regular consumption of alcohol in doses of 80-160 ml of ethanol leads to the development of alcoholic liver disease, which in turn progresses with the onset of cirrhosis. Among those who abuse alcohol for 5-10 years, 35% suffer from cirrhosis.
Diseases of the hepatobiliary system. Chronic hepatitis also often leads to fibrous degeneration of the liver tissue. In the first place in terms of frequency of diagnosis are viral hepatitis B and C (hepatitis C is prone to a more destructive course and progresses to cirrhosis more often). Also, cirrhosis can be the result of chronic autoimmune hepatitis, sclerosing cholangitis, primary cholestatic hepatitis, narrowing of the bile ducts, bile stasis. Cirrhosis that develops as a result of disturbances in the circulation of bile is called biliary. They are divided into primary and secondary.
Metabolic disorders. The cause of the development of liver cirrhosis can be metabolic pathology or enzyme deficiency: cystic fibrosis, galactosemia, glycogenosis, hemochromatosis.

Risk factors

Risk factors for liver tissue degeneration include:

In 20-30% of cases, the cause of the development of liver cirrhosis cannot be established, such cirrhosis is called cryptogenic.

Pathogenesis

The main pathogenetic factor in the development of cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic violation of the trophism of hepatocytes, their destruction. The result is the gradual formation of a nodule - a section of connective tissue. Formed nodes compress the vessels in the lobules and circulatory failure progresses. At the same time, the movement of blood in the portal vein system slows down, the vessels overflow and overstretch.

Blood begins to look for detours and mainly moves through the vessels of the collateral circulation, bypassing the liver. The vessels that take on the bulk of the hepatic blood flow - the veins of the esophagus and stomach, hemorrhoidal, anterior abdominal wall - are significantly overfilled, their varicose expansion occurs, thinning of the walls, which provokes bleeding.

Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver

The severity of clinical symptoms depends on the causes of cirrhosis, the activity of progression and the degree of liver damage. Asymptomatic course is noted in 20% of patients, quite often the disease proceeds initially with minimal manifestations (flatulence, decreased performance).

Later, periodic dull pain in the right hypochondrium, provoked by alcohol intake or dietary disorders and not stopped by antispasmodics, rapid satiety (feeling of stomach fullness) and skin itching may join. Sometimes there is a slight increase in body temperature, nosebleeds. With further progression, jaundice, signs of portal hypertension, varicose bleeding from the esophageal and hemorrhoidal veins, ascites (an increase in the amount of fluid in the abdominal cavity) is detected.

Typical symptoms in patients with cirrhosis of the liver: "drum sticks" (specific thickening of the phalanges of the fingers), "hour glasses" (a characteristic change in the nails), palmar erythema (redness of the palms), telangiectasias ("spider veins", protrusion of thin subcutaneous vessels on the face and body). In men, there may be an increase in the mammary glands (gynecomastia) and a decrease in the testicles. As a rule, progressive cirrhosis of the liver leads to weight loss, dystrophy.

Complications

One of the life-threatening complications of liver cirrhosis is liver failure. Acute liver failure is a terminal condition requiring urgent therapeutic measures, chronic liver failure leads to severe disorders of the nervous system as a result of excess ammonia in the blood and brain poisoning. If untreated, liver failure flows into hepatic coma (mortality of patients in hepatic coma is from 80 to 100%).

In almost the vast majority of cases, progressive cirrhosis is complicated by ascites and portal hypertension. Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity, manifested as an increase in the abdomen, determined by physical examination, by percussion. Often accompanied by swelling of the legs. Its occurrence is associated with a violation of protein homeostasis.

Portal hypertension - stagnation of blood in the portal vein system, characterized by increased bypass (collateral) venous outflow. As a result, varicose veins of the esophagus, stomach, rectum are formed, ruptures of their walls and bleeding occur. Visually, portal hypertension is determined by the “jellyfish head” symptom - dilated veins around the navel, diverging in different directions.

In addition to the above, cirrhosis of the liver can be complicated by the addition of an infection, the occurrence of a malignant neoplasm (hepatocellular carcinoma) in the liver, and there is also a chance of developing kidney failure.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis is made by a gastroenterologist or hepatologist based on a combination of history and physical examination data, laboratory tests, functional tests, and instrumental diagnostic methods.

UAC. Anemia, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia (usually this indicates the development of hypersplenism) can be noted in a general blood test with cirrhosis of the liver, coagulogram data show a decrease in the prothrombin index.
Blood chemistry. It reveals an increase in the activity of liver enzymes (Alt, AST, alkaline phosphatase), an increase in the content of bilirubin in the blood (both fractions), potassium and sodium, urea and creatinine, the level of albumin is lowered. They also conduct tests to detect antibodies to hepatitis viruses and determine the content of alpha-fetoprotein.
Ultrasound of the abdominal organs. According to sonography, changes in the size and shape of the liver, its sound permeability are noted, signs of portal hypertension, changes in the spleen are also visible.
Tomography. Abdominal CT allows even more detailed visualization of the liver, blood vessels, and bile ducts. If necessary, an MRI of the liver and dopplerometry of the liver vessels are performed.
Liver biopsy. Allows you to assess the nature of morphological changes and make an assumption about the causes of cirrhosis).

As auxiliary methods for identifying the cause of this disease, methods are used to identify enzyme deficiencies, examine indicators of iron metabolism, and the activity of proteins - markers of metabolic disorders.

MRI of the abdominal organs. Increased intensity of the MR signal from the hepatic parenchyma, multiple hyperintense heterogeneous regenerative nodules (in the red circle). Splenomegaly (red arrow)

Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver

Therapy of patients with cirrhosis of the liver should solve the following tasks: stop the progressive degeneration of the liver tissue, compensate for existing functional disorders, reduce the load on the veins of the collateral blood flow, and prevent the development of complications.

Non-drug methods

All patients are prescribed a special diet and recommended diet. With cirrhosis in the compensation phase, it is necessary to eat fully, to maintain a balance in the content of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, to take the necessary vitamins and minerals. Patients with cirrhosis of the liver should categorically refrain from drinking alcohol.

If there is a high risk of developing encephalopathy, liver failure, patients are transferred to a diet with a low protein content. With ascites and edema, patients are advised to refuse salt. Recommendations for the regimen: regular meals, 3-5 times a day, exercise, avoidance of hypodynamia (walking, swimming, exercise therapy).

Pharmacotherapy

Many drugs are contraindicated in patients with cirrhosis of the liver. It is also desirable to limit the use of medicinal herbs and dietary supplements.

Drug therapy of liver cirrhosis consists in correcting the symptoms associated with metabolic disorders, using hepatoprotectors (ademetionine, ornithine, ursodeoxycholic acid). Also used drugs that promote the excretion of ammonia and the normalization of the intestinal flora (lactulose), enteroseptics.

In addition to the direct treatment of cirrhosis, drug therapy is prescribed to combat the pathology that caused the degeneration of the liver tissue: antiviral interferon therapy, hormonal therapy for autoimmune conditions, etc.

Surgery

With severe ascites, laparocentesis is performed and excess fluid is removed from the abdominal cavity. To form an alternative blood flow, shunting of collateral vessels is done. But the cardinal surgical technique for the treatment of cirrhosis is donor liver transplantation. Transplantation is indicated for patients with a severe course, rapid progression, a high degree of degeneration of the liver tissue, and liver failure.

Prevention and prognosis

Cirrhosis is an incurable disease, but with early detection, successful eradication of the causative factor, and adherence to dietary and lifestyle recommendations, the survival prognosis is relatively favorable. Alcoholic cirrhosis with continued alcohol abuse is prone to rapid decompensation and the development of dangerous complications.

Patients with developed ascites have a survival prognosis of about 3-5 years. If bleeding occurs from varicose veins of the collateral blood flow, the mortality in the first episode is about 30-50%. The development of hepatic coma leads to death in the vast majority of cases (80-100%).

Prevention of liver cirrhosis consists in limiting alcohol intake, timely and adequate treatment of viral hepatitis and other diseases that contribute to the development of cirrhosis. A healthy balanced diet and an active lifestyle are also recommended.