chronic liver disease

Chronic liver disease involves a process of progressive destruction and regeneration of the liver parenchyma leading to fibrosis (scarring of liver) and cirrhosis (scarring with nodularity). Chronic liver disease refers to disease of the liver which generally lasts over a period of six months. It consists of a wide range of liver pathologies which include inflammation (chronic hepatitis), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Complications:

• Portal hypertension - ascites; splenomegaly; upper GI bleed (bleeding from esophageal and rectal varices)
• Synthetic dysfunction -Hypoalbuminemia leading to swelling of body; Coagulopathy
• Hepatopulmonary syndrome(breathing difficulty)
• Hepatorenal syndrome
• Encephalopathy
• Hepatocellular carcinoma.

The treatment of chronic liver disease depends on the cause. Specific conditions may be treated with medications including corticosteroids, interferon, oral antivirals, bile acids or other drugs. Supportive therapy for complications of cirrhosis include diuretics, regular albumin transfusions, vitamin K, blood products, antibiotics and nutritional therapy. Some patients require liver transplant.

Liver transplantation is the replacement of a diseased liver with the healthy liver from another person who is generally the close relative of the patient (allograft). Liver transplant is a treatment option for end-stage liver disease (cirrhosis) and acute liver failure. The most common technique is orthotopic transplantation, in which the native liver is removed and replaced by the donor organ in the same anatomic position as the original liver. The surgical procedure is complex, requires careful handling of the donor organ and meticulous implantation into the recipient. Liver transplantation is highly regulated, and only performed at designated transplant medical centers by highly trained transplant physicians and supporting medical team.