Cirrhosis is a terminal stage of liver disease that cannot be reversed (e.g., viral hepatitis, alcoholic or non-alcoholic fatty liver disease). The liver's cirrhosis involves changes to the organ's structure and the development of scar tissue. As a result, the liver fails and develops progressive fibrosis as well as ischemia-induced necrosis of liver cells. The liver stops producing the bile required for digestion, stops detoxifying the body of toxins, and stops breaking down drugs and nutrients.
Cirrhosis of the liver worsens over time. It initially shows no symptoms or presents with odd symptoms like bloating, appetite loss, and a bitter aftertaste. The emergence of more challenging complications is linked to the disease's progression.
The diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma, variceal bleeding, ascites, jaundice, hepatic encephalopathy, or ascites in a patient signifies the change from the compensated phase to the decompensated phase of cirrhosis. A person with cirrhosis cannot live without treatment.
A serious condition called liver cirrhosis can be fatal if untreated. It is the 9th most common cause of death overall and the 5th most common among those between the ages of 45 and 65. The main reasons for death from cirrhosis include complications like:
- idiopathic bacterial peritonitis,
- variceal hemorrhage,
- ascites,
- liver cancer,
- hepatorenal syndrome,
- hepatopulmonary syndrome.
Hepatic coma, hemorrhagic diathesis, and body edema may manifest in the advanced stages of cirrhosis. A high risk of bleeding exists for the patient. Before death, there are several signs that manifest:
- abdominal swelling,
- tiredness
- breathing difficulties,
- jaundice,
- skin itching ,
- gastrointestinal bleeding,
- vomiting,
- confusion, disorientation.
Life expectancy with cirrhosis
The severity of the liver damage in cases of cirrhosis affects the prognosis, among other things. The chance of surviving for 10 years in patients with compensated cirrhosis is thought to be around 47% (when no serious complications have emerged). The 5-year survival rate in decompensated cirrhosis is approximately 16%, and the 10-year survival rate is very low. Unfortunately, a lot of people learn about the disease after complications have already arisen.
The prognosis of cirrhosis can be estimated based on the Child-Turcotte-Pugh (CTP) scale, which uses indicators such as bilirubin, albumin, ascites, and others.
- Class A cirrhosis – one-year and two-year survival rates for these classes are 100% and 85%,
- Class B cirrhosis – one-year and two-year survival rates are 80% and 60%,
- Class C cirrhosis - one-year and two-year survival rates are 45% and 35%.
Patients with an early diagnosis—before the scarring process begins—and complete abstinence from alcohol have the best prognosis. One-year and five-year survival rates for those who successfully undergo liver transplant surgery are roughly 85% and 72%, respectively. Additionally, it should be mentioned that liver disease may return after transplantation.
Can cirrhosis be cured?
Since the disease is progressive and irreversible, the main goals of treatment are to stop further liver changes and get rid of the symptoms. This might entail managing the condition that caused cirrhosis. Only a transplant of this organ can save the patient in advanced stages. It is possible to halt the disease's progression in its early stages.
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