Is early-stage cirrhosis treatable?

Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
Updated on December 01, 2024
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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)

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
42sec home-news-image

Do I need to take liver-protective medicine in the early stages of cirrhosis?

As for whether it is still necessary to take liver-protective medication in the early stages of cirrhosis, it depends on whether there is liver function impairment in patients with early-stage cirrhosis. If there is liver function impairment, such as elevated transaminases and bilirubin, then it is necessary to take some liver-protective medications. If liver function is normal, then it is sufficient to treat only the cause of the disease. For example, if cirrhosis is caused by chronic hepatitis B virus infection, but the patient's liver function is normal, then antiviral treatment alone is sufficient. If the cirrhosis is due to alcohol abuse, then strict abstinence from alcohol is required, and the condition can generally be stabilized.

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
47sec home-news-image

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)

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Written by Wu Hai Wu
Gastroenterology
48sec home-news-image

Can early-stage cirrhosis cancer be cured?

Whether early-stage liver cirrhosis cancer can be cured depends on a detailed analysis of the specific situation. Firstly, if a patient with early-stage liver cirrhosis develops cancer, it is crucial to promptly combine the patient’s physical condition with aggressive surgical treatment. The specific surgical approach and procedure are determined by clinical doctors. Moreover, for patients with early-stage cancer, targeted etiological treatment should be administered. For instance, if the early-stage liver cancer is caused by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, active intervention is necessary. If it is due to viral hepatitis, such as chronic hepatitis B leading to liver cirrhosis and progressing to early-stage cancer, active antiviral treatment is required.

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Written by Li Hu Chen
Imaging Center
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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.

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Written by Huang Ya Juan
Gastroenterology
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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.