What is Liver Cirrhosis?

Stages of Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis of the liver is a serious condition where the liver becomes damaged and turns into scar tissue over time. This loss of healthy liver function can lead to various health problems. Doctors use specific systems to see how serious the cirrhosis is—two of the main ones are the Child-Pugh classification and the MELD score. Knowing the stage of cirrhosis is important for understanding treatment options and managing the patient’s health.

Compensated Cirrhosis:

This is the early stage. Although the liver is damaged, it can still work fairly well. People may not feel very sick, or they might only have mild symptoms like tiredness or a bit of discomfort in the belly. In this stage, it’s classified as Child-Pugh Class A, which means the symptoms are mild.

Decompensated Cirrhosis:

As cirrhosis gets worse, the liver stops working as well. This stage is split into two classes:

• Child-Pugh Class B:Here, the liver is moderately dysfunctional, and the risk of complications is higher. Symptoms might include fluid build-up in the belly (ascites), yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice), and easier bruising or bleeding.
• Child-Pugh Class C:This is the most severe stage of cirrhosis. Patients here experience serious liver failure, which can lead to severe symptoms like intense fluid build-up, confusion due to liver problems (encephalopathy), and a high risk of bleeding.

End-Stage Liver Disease (ESLD):

This is the final and most serious phase of cirrhosis. Patients experience life-threatening conditions and very severe symptoms. Problems may include severe confusion, lots of fluid in the belly, kidney issues (hepatorenal syndrome), and bleeding from enlarged veins in the esophagus or stomach. This stage greatly affects a person’s quality of life, and often the only option for treatment may be a liver transplant.

Liver Cirrhosis Risk Factors

To keep your liver healthy and avoid cirrhosis, it helps to understand what can increase your chances of developing this condition. Here are the main risk factors:

• Drinking Too Much Alcohol: Drinking large amounts of alcohol regularly can harm your liver. Over many years, this can lead to cirrhosis. It’s one of the most common reasons for liver damage.
• Being Overweight or Obese: If someone is overweight, it can lead to other liver issues like non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) or non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). These conditions can also damage the liver and may progress to cirrhosis if not treated.
• Viral Hepatitis: This refers to infections caused by viruses, especially hepatitis B and C. They can cause long-term liver damage. While not everyone who has these infections will get cirrhosis, they are important risk factors to be aware of.

Complications of Liver Cirrhosis

When someone has cirrhosis, it can lead to several complications:

H3: Portal Hypertension

This means high blood pressure in the veins that go to the liver. Because the liver is damaged, blood can’t flow through it as well, which causes pressure to build up in those veins.

Edema and Ascites:

• Edema: This is when fluid builds up in the legs, making them swollen.
• Ascites: This is when fluid builds up in the abdomen (the belly). This can happen because the liver can’t make enough of certain proteins that help keep fluid in the blood vessels.

Enlarged Spleen (Splenomegaly)

The spleen is an organ that helps with fighting infections and managing blood cells. Portal hypertension can make the spleen bigger, which can trap some blood cells inside it. This can lead to low numbers of important cells in the blood that help fight infection and clot blood.

Bleeding and Varices

Due to the high pressure in those veins, some smaller veins can become swollen and burst, leading to serious bleeding. Some of these veins can develop in the esophagus (the tube that goes from the throat to the stomach), which can be very dangerous. The liver also makes substances that help blood clot, and if the liver isn’t working well, bleeding is more likely.

Infections

Because cirrhosis weakens the immune system (the body’s defence against sickness), it can be harder to fight off infections. For example, fluid that gathers in the abdomen can get infected, leading to a serious situation called bacterial peritonitis.

Liver Cirrhosis Prevention

While some cases of cirrhosis cannot be avoided due to things like genetics or autoimmune diseases, many cases are related to things we can control. Here’s a simpler explanation of the main points:

• Avoid Alcohol: If you already have liver problems, you should not drink alcohol at all. Alcohol can make the situation worse and cause more damage to your liver.
• Eat Healthy Foods: You should eat lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins (like chicken or fish). Try to avoid foods that are oily or fried, as these can put extra strain on your liver and make it less healthy.
• Keep a Healthy Weight: Being overweight can hurt your liver over time. If you are overweight, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor about a weight-loss plan that is right for you.
• Prevent Hepatitis: Hepatitis B and C are infections that can lead to cirrhosis. To lower your chances of getting these infections, do not share needles with anyone and practice safe sex. You can also talk to your doctor about getting vaccinated for hepatitis.