Liver Disease

 

Common Liver Disease

 

Although liver disease is usually linked to alcohol, the truth is that there are over 100 known forms of liver disease caused by a variety of factors and affecting everyone from infants to older adults.

Cirrhosis is often considered to be a form of liver disease and may be the only liver-related condition that many people have heard of. In fact, cirrhosis is a condition that results from permanent damage or scarring of the liver. It is the end stage of many different forms of liver disease and is known to cause a number of other health problems, including variceal bleeding, ascites and hepatic encephalopathy.

 

Many types of liver disease still have unknown causes but the most frequent liver diseases are generally caused by one of the following factors:

• Viral hepatitis

• Caused by viruses that attack the liver, viral hepatitis comes in many forms. The most common forms world-wide are hepatitis A, B and C. Although hepatitis A and B can be prevented by vaccine, there is no vaccine for hepatitis C.

• Obesity

• One of the leading cause of liver disease in western world is fatty liver disease linked to obesity. In India fatty liver disease is being seen in non – obese people as well. If you have diabetes then you will have more chance of developing this type of liver disease.

• Alcohol

• Factors such as gender, age, nationality, weight and health can affect how a person’s liver metabolizes alcohol. When the liver has too much alcohol to handle, normal liver function may be interrupted leading to a chemical imbalance. If the liver is required to detoxify alcohol continuously, liver cells may be destroyed or altered resulting in fat deposits (fatty liver) and more seriously, either inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) and/or permanent scarring (cirrhosis). Liver cancer can also result from alcohol induced liver disease.

• Genetics

• Several forms of liver disease are caused or thought to be caused, by defective genes. These forms of liver disease may be diagnosed in infancy or may not show up until later in life. Examples include hemochromatosis, Wilson disease, tyrosinemia, alpha 1 antitrypsin deficiency and Glycogen Storage disease.

• Autoimmune disorders

• Sometimes a body’s immune system may begin to attack the liver or bile ducts causing inflammation and scarring which leads to a progressive form of liver disease. Examples of liver diseases believed to be caused by the immune system are primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and autoimmune hepatitis.

• Cancer

• Although primary liver cancer is relatively uncommon, many other forms of cancer often metastasize in the liver. Because the liver filters a high volume of blood which may be carrying cancer cells, it is susceptible to developing a form of secondary cancer. If cancer originates in the liver, it is often caused by hepatitis B, hepatitis C or it can develop in cases of advanced liver disease when cirrhosis is present.

 

Progression of Liver Disease

 

There are many different types of liver disease. But no matter what type you have, the damage to your liver is likely to progress in a similar way. Whether your liver is infected with a virus, injured by chemicals, or under attack from your own immune system, the basic danger is the same – that your liver will become so damaged that it can no longer work to keep you alive.

The Healthy Liver

 

Your liver helps fight infections and cleans your blood. It also helps digest food and stores energy for when you need it. A healthy liver has the amazing ability to grow back, or regenerate, when it is damaged. Anything that keeps your liver from doing its job – or from growing back after injury – may put your life in danger

 

Inflammation

 

In the early stage of any liver disease, your liver may become inflamed. It may become tender and enlarged. Inflammation shows that your body is trying to fight an infection or heal an injury. But if the inflammation continues over time, it can start to hurt your liver permanently.

When most other parts of your body become inflamed, you can feel it – the area becomes hot and painful. But an inflamed liver may cause you no discomfort at all. If your liver disease is diagnosed and treated successfully at this stage, the inflammation may go away.

Fibrosis

 

If left untreated, the inflamed liver will start to scar. As excess scar tissue grows, it replaces healthy liver tissue. This process is called fibrosis. (Scar tissue is a kind of fibrous tissue.)

Scar tissue cannot do the work that healthy liver tissue can. Moreover, scar tissue can keep blood from flowing through your liver. As more scar tissue builds up, your liver may not work as well as it once did. Or, the healthy part of your liver has to work harder to make up for the scarred part. If your liver disease is diagnosed and treated successfully at this stage, there’s still a chance that your liver can heal itself over time.

Cirrhosis

 

But if left untreated, your liver may become so seriously scarred that it can no longer heal itself. This stage – when the damage cannot be reversed – is called cirrhosis.

• Cirrhosis can lead to a number of complications, including liver cancer. In some people, the symptoms of cirrhosis may be the first signs of liver disease. You may bleed or bruise easily.

• Water may build up in your legs and/or abdomen.

• Your skin and eyes may take on a yellow color, a condition called jaundice.

• Your skin may itch intensely.

• In blood vessels leading to your liver, the blood may back up because of blockage. These blood vessels may burst.

• You may become more sensitive to medications and their side effects.

• You may develop insulin resistance and type-2 diabetes.

• Toxins may build up in your brain, causing problems with concentration, memory, sleeping, or other mental functions.

 

Chronic Liver Disease /Cirrhosis

 

What is Chronic Liver Disease?

The liver is essential for digesting food and clearing your body of toxic substances. Cirrhosis is when scar tissue supplants healthy liver tissue. This prevents the liver from working normally. Cirrhosis is defined as long-term (chronic) lThe loss to your liver builds up over time.

Our liver is the body’s largest internal organ. It placed under our ribs on the right side of your belly. The liver performs many important things including:

• Waste removal from the body, such as toxins and medicines

• Making bile to help digest food

• Storing sugar that the body uses for energy

• Making new proteins.

When you are diagnosed with cirrhosis, scar tissue slowdowns the flow of blood through the liver. Over time, the liver can’t perform the way it should do. In some cases, the liver is damaged so badly that it stops functioning. This causes liver failure. 

Dr. Chetan Kalal is Chronic Liver disease specialist in South Mumbai, he is associated with Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital and Research Centre. Let see what causes cirrhosis.

 

What causes liver disease?

• Hepatitis and other viruses

• Long-term alcohol abuse

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Immune system abnormality

• Genetic liver diseases

• Metabolic Problems

 

What are the symptoms of cirrhosis/ liver disease?

• Fluid buildup in the belly (ascites)

• Vomiting blood

• Gallstones

• Itchiness over the skin

• Yellowing of the skin and eyes

• Low energy and weakness

• Swelling in the legs and ankles

• Kidney failure

• Muscle loss

• Loss of appetite

• Easy bruising

• Weight loss

• Confusion as toxins build up in the blood

• Dark urine color

 

How is cirrhosis treated?

Being Chronic Liver disease specialist in South Mumbai, Dr. Chetan Kalal will determine specific Liver disease treatment for cirrhosis based on:

• Your age, overall health and medical history

• Extent of the disease

• Your tolerance for specific medications, procedures or therapies

• Expectations for the course of the disease

• Your opinion or preference

 

 

WHAT IS MEANT BY CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER?

In cirrhosis of the liver, the liver tissue starts to break down or decay. This healthy tissue is then reinstated with scar tissue. The scar tissue doesn’t allow blood to flow to the healthy parts of the liver.

The damaged parts of the liver may reform in the early stages of the disease, as the damage spreads, the liver’s ability to fix itself downfalls.

 

HOW DO YOU SUFFER FROM CIRRHOSIS OF THE LIVER?

Cirrhosis of the liver is a lifelong liver disease. The most common cause of cirrhosis of the liver is because of alcohol abuse and hepatitis C infection. A few other causes include:

• Hepatitis B and Hepatitis D

• Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

• Infection

• Specific inherited diseases

If you find out any symptoms related to Cirrhosis or its infection you can get treated from Dr. Sanjay Goja , he is Best Cirrhosis Doctor in Delhi NCR

 

Sepsis in cirrhosis

 

Certain liver disorders, such as cirrhosis of the liver, can increase your risk of growing infection and sepsis. Sometimes wrongly called blood poisoning, sepsis is often the body’s deadly answer to infection. Sepsis requires early detection and rapid treatment.

Sepsis and septic shock can result from an infection anywhere in the body, such as pneumonia, influenza, or urinary tract infections. Worldwide, one-third of people who develop sepsis die. Many who do survive are left with life-changing effects, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain and fatigue, organ dysfunction (organs don’t work properly) and/or amputations.

 

DEFINITION OF SEPSIS-

Sepsis is an inflammatory reply to the presence of infection. Sepsis becomes severe when it is associated with organ dysfunction. Patients suffering from cirrhosis are prone to develop sepsis. Cirrhotic patients are especially responsive to bacterial infections because of developed bacterial translocation, possibly related to liver dysfunction.

 

How does sepsis affect the liver?

Liver dysfunction after sepsis is an independent risk factor for multiple organ dysfunction and sepsis-induced death. … Acting as a double-edged sword in sepsis, the liver-mediated immune response is responsible for clearing bacteria and toxins but also causes inflammation, immunosuppression, and organ damage.

 

Sepsis Causes and Risk Factors

Bacterial infections are most often to blame. But sepsis can also result from other infections. It can begin anywhere bacteria or viruses enter the body. So, it could sometimes be caused by something as minor as a scraped knee or nicked cuticle. If you have a more serious medical problem such as appendicitis, pneumonia, meningitis, or a urinary tract infection, you’re also at risk.

 

What are the symptoms of sepsis?

• Fever and chills.

• Very low body temperature

• Peeing less than normal

• Rapid pulse

• Rapid breathing

• Nausea and vomiting

• Diarrhea