Is hepatitis B cirrhosis serious?

Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 15, 2024
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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.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
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Can liver cirrhosis be detected by an ultrasound B-scan?

Liver cirrhosis can be diagnosed with an ultrasound. In the early stages of cirrhosis, there are no specific changes in the sonographic pattern visible on ultrasound. Typically, cirrhosis manifests as a decrease in liver volume, with imbalanced proportions of the liver lobes; both the left and right lobes may shrink, with compensatory hypertrophy observed in some cases in the left lobe. The liver capsule appears serrated, and the echoes from the liver area are coarser and stronger, with uneven distribution. It's possible to observe nodules with low or high echoes. The liver vessels vary in thickness, the hepatic veins may narrow, and the portal vein can widen. An enlarged portal vein can lead to symptoms like splenomegaly and ascites.

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Written by Yuan Lin Yan
Infectious Disease
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Is hepatitis B with liver cirrhosis severe?

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 Ye Xi Yong
Infectious Diseases
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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.

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Written by Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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Can cirrhosis be detected by a CT scan?

Cirrhosis can be detected by a CT scan. Early-stage cirrhosis has no specific diagnostic value on CT, but middle to late-stage cirrhosis typically manifests as wavy changes in the liver capsule, enlarged liver lobes, and disproportionate size of liver lobes, with most changes involving an enlargement of the left lobe and caudate lobe and a relative shrinkage of the right lobe. Additionally, secondary manifestations of cirrhosis, such as portal hypertension, can cause enlargement of the spleen and varices in the lower esophagus and stomach fundus. When cirrhosis is detected, it is advisable to perform an enhanced CT scan to determine the potential for malignant transformation in liver regenerative nodules.

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Gastroenterology
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Is early-stage cirrhosis treatable?

Whether early symptoms of cirrhosis can be treated depends on the cause of the cirrhosis. If the cause of the cirrhosis is clear and can be effectively suppressed, then the early symptoms of cirrhosis can be effectively treated. For example, if the cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, then the use of antiviral drugs such as entecavir, tenofovir, and adefovir can effectively control the further development of cirrhosis. However, if the cirrhosis is caused by autoimmune liver diseases or cholestatic liver cirrhosis, the treatment might not be as effective, because there are no specifically effective treatments available for these diseases. (Medication should be used under the guidance of a physician)