Subscribe
Cirrhosis
Is alcoholic cirrhosis ascites serious?
Once ascites caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis is discovered, it indicates that the liver has reached the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, which is quite severe. Decompensated cirrhosis itself has a relatively low five-year and ten-year survival rate. Moreover, once the liver enters the decompensated stage, it is also prone to corresponding complications, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, infections, etc. Therefore, when alcoholic liver cirrhosis presents with ascites, it is crucial to seek treatment at a formal hospital. The condition is quite serious and requires active treatment.
How long can one live with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis?
We cannot give a definite answer on how long a patient with hepatitis B-related cirrhosis can live, as the life expectancy in late-stage cirrhosis is influenced by many factors including treatment measures, lifestyle adjustments, daily healthcare, and physical condition. Patients in the compensated stage of cirrhosis, if treated and the progression of cirrhosis is halted, with normal liver function and negative hepatitis B virus replication indicators, can work normally. In this state, the quality of life is good, and they can live to 70 to 80 years old. For patients in the decompensated stage of cirrhosis, if untreated and the cirrhosis is allowed to progress, about 70 to 80% may die within 5 years; however, aggressive treatment, including traditional Chinese medicine for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, combined with antiviral treatment, bleeding prevention, liver protection, and liver transplantation, can significantly increase the survival time of patients.
Can cirrhosis be detected by ultrasound B?
If there are signs of hardening in the liver, which we call cirrhosis, an ultrasound, specifically a hepatobiliary ultrasound, can detect it. Especially in the middle and late stages, cirrhosis has some characteristic features on an ultrasound. First, one can observe the size of the liver. By the middle and late stages, the liver usually shrinks—a slight enlargement may occur early on, but it generally progressively diminishes. Additionally, the texture of the liver becomes harder, and through the ultrasound, the texture appears uneven with a bumpy feeling, or in other words, there can be seen a diffuse and uneven echo. However, for early-stage cirrhosis, a standard ultrasound may not be as sensitive. Nowadays, there are digital liver ultrasounds specifically designed to measure the degree of liver hardness, which provide objective data to help diagnose more sensitively and objectively. This method can definitely detect the condition.
Is hepatitis B cirrhosis serious?
After infection with the hepatitis B virus, it may cause repeated inflammatory damage to the liver. If hepatitis B is not well-controlled, it can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis. The symptoms of liver cirrhosis mainly manifest as repeated fatigue, poor appetite, yellowing of the eyes, yellow urine, and discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating, etc. If the cirrhosis due to hepatitis B is in a compensated stage, such as liver cirrhosis suggested by ultrasonography and mild abnormalities in liver function, and the symptoms are not very severe, this type of compensatory cirrhosis, relatively speaking, has a decent prognosis. With standard antiviral treatment, many patients can maintain a state of liver cirrhosis. However, if treatment is not further pursued and damage progresses, leading to decompensated liver cirrhosis, or if ascites has already developed, or even gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, then its prognosis is relatively poor, and this situation is very serious.
How long does it take for fatty liver to progress to cirrhosis?
How long does it take for fatty liver to progress to cirrhosis? Fatty liver is generally divided into mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver. If it is mild or moderate fatty liver, it can be reversed through proper exercise and diet control, meaning it can be cured. However, once it progresses to severe fatty liver, it can easily develop into cirrhosis, but the specific time required is about five years. Therefore, once we have fatty liver, it must be taken very seriously. With the improvement of living standards, most people are obese, which means that fatty liver is mostly caused by obesity. In terms of treatment, the focus is mainly on the cause, which is obesity. Patients need to follow a reasonable diet and actively exercise to lose weight. If successful in losing weight, fatty liver can be reversed, and we do not have to worry about fatty liver developing into cirrhosis.
Symptoms of alcoholic liver cirrhosis
Long-term alcohol consumption can lead to alcoholic liver disease, with alcoholic liver cirrhosis being one of its main manifestations. Initially, it presents with reduced liver function, symptoms such as loss of appetite, abdominal pain, bloating, vomiting, aversion to oily foods, diarrhea, and nausea, which are indicative of hepatitis. Additionally, there may be darkening of the skin, menstrual irregularities, and even signs like liver palms and spider angiomas due to metabolic disorders. Furthermore, disruptions in carbohydrate metabolism can lead to nutritional excess, increasing lipid levels in the body and leading to fatty liver and hyperlipidemia. There can also be abnormal protein synthesis, resulting in ascites, pleural effusion, and other symptoms of liver dysfunction. Additionally, abnormalities in vitamin metabolism can cause rough skin and edema. Coagulation factors are often abnormal as well, leading to symptoms such as bleeding gums and nosebleeds. Therefore, it is crucial to seek medical attention promptly in these situations to restore normal health.
Can alcoholic cirrhosis be contagious?
Cirrhosis caused by hepatitis formed by alcohol is not contagious in clinical settings. Contagious cirrhosis generally refers to viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis A, B, C, and E, which are infectious. Alcoholic cirrhosis, primarily caused by drinking, is not caused by viruses; hence, alcohol does not facilitate transmission between people. The common transmission modes involve fecal-oral routes, for instance, through blood and bodily fluids in hepatitis A and B. In contrast, alcoholic liver disease is relatively safe, so there is no need to worry about it being contagious.
Symptoms of decompensated cirrhosis due to hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus infection repeatedly leads to severe damage to the liver. If chronic hepatitis is not actively controlled, cirrhosis may occur. A symptom of decompensated cirrhosis mainly manifests as ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, portal hypertension, and some people exhibit symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy. The presence of these complications indicates that the patient has reached the stage of decompensated cirrhosis. Patients in this stage often exhibit distinct jaundice, dark urine, abdominal distension after eating, and the presence of ascites with a positive shifting dullness. Additionally, some patients may experience vomiting blood, black stools, liver coma, and other related symptoms. Once these symptoms appear, it indicates that the prognosis for the patient is relatively poor.
Is hepatitis B cirrhosis contagious?
If hepatitis B is not well controlled, it can easily lead to the occurrence of cirrhosis. After the hepatitis B virus infects the human body, it causes repeated inflammatory damage to the liver, with recurring abnormalities in liver function. If during this period there is no formal antiviral treatment or lack of attention, it is very likely to lead to the development of cirrhosis. Once cirrhosis from hepatitis B occurs, it is generally irreversible. Cirrhosis due to hepatitis B is also an infectious disease, and its level of infectiousness mainly depends on the presence of the virus. If the viral load is positive, indicated by a positive HBV-DNA test, then it is infectious. If HBV-DNA is negative, then it is not infectious. Therefore, whether cirrhosis from hepatitis B is infectious primarily depends on the level of HBV-DNA.
Early symptoms of cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis is generally divided into compensated and decompensated stages: The compensated stage is actually an early stage of liver cirrhosis. During this stage, most patients do not show symptoms, or they may experience some mild symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Decompensated stage: Early stages often present with fatigue and weakness, and later stages can include weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to oily foods, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, fever, etc.; The liver is the only site of albumin synthesis, and during cirrhosis, reduced serum albumin can cause edema and ascites; the liver synthesizes most clotting factors, and cirrhosis can lead to coagulation disorders, clinically manifesting as gum bleeding, skin bruising, and nosebleeds; During cirrhosis, there can also be metabolic disorders of bilirubin and bile acids, leading to jaundice; Cirrhosis can also cause hormonal metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, who may exhibit many characteristics of male dysfunction, including impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy, loss of body hair and muscle mass, feminization, etc. Female patients may experience cessation or reduction of menstruation, excessive menstruation, infertility, etc.; Both male and female patients can develop osteoporosis, leading to spontaneous fractures.