Can second stage cirrhosis be cured?

Written by Huang Gang
Gastroenterology
Updated on January 10, 2025
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No form of cirrhosis can be cured, but it is possible to alleviate the condition, control it, and slow its progression through medication.

Therefore, once diagnosed with cirrhosis, it is essential to understand the type of cirrhosis, which means making an accurate diagnosis. If it is hepatitis B or C related cirrhosis, active antiviral medication should be taken orally to quickly control and slow the progression of the disease; for alcoholic liver, it is advised to abstain from alcohol strictly; if the condition is severe and irreversible, liver transplant surgery could be considered.

Other Voices

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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 Shen Jiang Chao
Radiology
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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 Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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What is the difference between the symptoms of cholecystitis and the symptoms of cirrhosis?

The symptoms of cholecystitis differ significantly from those of cirrhosis. The symptoms of cholecystitis mainly manifest as pain in the upper right abdomen, along with chills and fever, while the symptoms of cirrhosis primarily include fatigue, poor appetite, and may also present with jaundice, abdominal distension, and swelling of the lower limbs. To determine whether a patient has cholecystitis or cirrhosis, it is recommended to visit the gastroenterology department of a standard hospital as soon as possible for a comprehensive examination. This should include abdominal imaging, liver function tests, complete blood count, among others, to further clarify the diagnosis and adopt corresponding treatment measures.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
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Do you need a liver transplant in the early stages of cirrhosis?

In the early stages of cirrhosis, liver transplant is not necessary. Early-stage cirrhosis requires timely and comprehensive auxiliary examinations to determine the cause of the cirrhosis. This includes determining whether it is due to viral hepatitis, cholestatic hepatitis, or drug-induced hepatitis, among others. Once a patient exhibits early signs of cirrhosis, it is crucial to treat the specific cause and symptoms actively, and undertake proactive liver protection treatments. It is also essential to prevent complications associated with cirrhosis, such as esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding, primary liver cancer, hepatorenal syndrome, liver disease, and ascites.

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Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
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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.