Is hepatitis B with liver cirrhosis severe?

Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 23, 2024
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Hepatitis B-related cirrhosis is a form of liver cirrhosis caused by the hepatitis B virus, and it is more severe than chronic hepatitis B. However, cirrhosis can be categorized into compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Decompensated cirrhosis refers to the advanced stages of cirrhosis, characterized by significant hardening of the liver, and complications such as ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding may occur. This type of cirrhosis is severe and has a high mortality rate, and even timely antiviral therapy against hepatitis B cannot effectively delay the progression of the disease. Compensated cirrhosis refers to the early stages of cirrhosis, where complications like ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and gastrointestinal bleeding are not present, making this type of cirrhosis comparatively less severe. With timely antiviral therapy against hepatitis B, the progression of cirrhosis can be delayed.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
1min 3sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
1min 8sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Wang Ji Zhong
Internal Medicine
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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.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Why does cirrhosis cause increasing weight loss and what can be done about it?

The reason why patients with cirrhosis are becoming thinner might be due to the decreased protein synthesis function of the liver after cirrhosis, leading to progressively lesser protein in the body, which results in the patient becoming thinner. It could also be because cirrhosis leads to poor digestion and absorption in patients, thereby reducing their absorption capacity and causing them to lose weight. Under these circumstances, some medications can be used for treatment, such as the infusion of albumin to supplement plasma proteins in the body. It is also important to actively treat the underlying cause of cirrhosis. For example, in the case of alcoholic cirrhosis, active efforts to abstain from alcohol and rehabilitative treatment are necessary. If the cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, antiviral treatment should be administered.

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Written by Yang Chun Guang
Gastroenterology
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Is liver cirrhosis with ascites contagious?

Liver cirrhosis in the decompensated stage with ascites present is not inherently contagious. Whether the condition is infectious depends not on the severity of liver function, the degree of liver cirrhosis, or the gravity of ascites, but rather on the underlying cause of the liver cirrhosis. For example, liver cirrhosis caused by alcohol consumption is not contagious. However, if the liver cirrhosis is due to viral hepatitis, such as commonly seen with hepatitis B or C, the condition can be infectious. Therefore, the presence of ascites or liver cirrhosis itself is not an indicator of infectiousness; the crucial factor is whether there is an infectious virus present.