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The liver is a vital organ and the largest gland in the body. It has three main functions. It detoxifies and helps to eliminate harmful substances from the body. It purifies the blood. It produces nutrients vital to the body.

Cirrhosis is a situation where irreversible scarring takes place in the liver. There is nothing that can help the tissue once it is scarred. In the early stages of cirrhosis there are not really any signs and symptoms. When the liver truly starts to deteriorate the symptoms and signs of cirrhosis are as follows:

*Encephalopathy (mental confusion, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, losing items)
*Weakness
*Appearance of spider veins under the skin
*Easy bruising
*Impotence or loss of interest in sex
*Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes, dark cola-colored urine
*Bleeding from engorged veins in the esophagus or intestines
*Fatigue
*Edema (swelling in the legs and feet)
*Gynecomastia (breast development in men)
*Weight loss
*Vomiting blood
*Decreased urine output
*Nosebleeds
*Bleeding gums
*Enlarged live
*Distended abdomen
*Fevers
*Clay or pale colored stool

Liver damage from cirrhosis is truly irreversible, so treatment consists of preventing further damage. If the liver becomes too damaged a liver transplant is the only viable option.

In the mean time, if the treatment is for alcoholic cirrhosis therapy centers around first taking care of the substance abuse. The patient has to stop drinking. This may be accomplished with residential inpatient treatment, outpatient therapy, or complete hospitalization.

Nutrition is often a key part of therapy. They will be assigned a dietitian to help them develop new eating habits to help them gain weight and help liver cells regenerate.

Treatment may include hepatic encephalopathy. A synthetic sugar is used to help lower blood ammonia and other toxins levels. It works by changing the type of bacteria that is working in the intestines. Antibiotics may be a part of this treatment as well.

An over abundance of metabolites in the blood may cause uncomfortable itching. The patient may take antihistamines or other medications to help ease the symptoms.

To help with portal hypertension the doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications. The purpose would be to help lower the pressure in the portal vein to help prevent bleeding from enlarges blood vessels.

Fluid retention is another big problem with liver cirrhosis. Severe cases of water retention require that a tube be placed in the abdomen to drain off excess fluid. Sometimes diuretics can be prescribed that can take care of the situation.

If the patient has complete liver failure a transplant is needed. There have been some successful transplants with half of a healthy liver. If the patient has hepatitis C there is a chance that the new liver with become affected as well.

The good news is if the problem is caught early it is a slow progressing process and research is on going.

Learn more about this author, Trenna Sue Hiler.
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