The liver is a natural filter of our body. Violations in the work of this body cause significant harm to the whole body. Cirrhosis is a very dangerous disease that has several stages of development, depending on the severity of the course. The last and most dangerous degree of organ damage is called decompensated cirrhosis. This means that damaged cells of the organ cannot be restored. In this article we will consider the causes of pathology and possible treatment.
Definition
Decompensated cirrhosis of the liver is an irreversible stage of cirrhosis, which leads to irreparable consequences. At this stage, the organ tissues are destroyed, replaced by scar compounds. The pathological process affects almost the entire liver, which is the reason for its deformation and reduction in size.
The body cannot perform its functions, which leads to intoxication of the body and the development of dangerous diseases that can lead to death. A feature of the decompensated stage is the rapidity of its development. Most often, the disease is diagnosed in older people aged 50-60 years.
Causes
The decompensated stage of cirrhosis can occur for various reasons. Consider the most common of them.
- The use of alcoholic beverages. This is the main factor in the development of pathology.
- Taking drugs.
- Long-term use of drugs.
- Interaction with harmful substances.
- Viral diseases.
- Venous congestion of the liver.
- Smoking.
- Improper nutrition.
- Autoimmune diseases.
- Pathology of the heart.
Symptomatology
Unlike the earlier stages of cirrhosis, in which the signs of the disease are poorly expressed, with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver, the symptoms are very pronounced, which makes it easy to diagnose the development of a pathological condition.
Patients complain of the following clinical manifestations:
- Abrupt loss of body weight.
- Flatulence.
- Abdominal pain, discomfort in the ribs on the right side.
- Lack of appetite.
- The exhaustion of the body.
- Intense heat.
- Violation of the stool.
- Jaundice.
- Hemorrhoids.
- Yellowness of the skin.
- Swelling, especially in the abdomen.
- Bleeding.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Psycho-emotional disorders, manifested in the form of insomnia, irritability, tearfulness.
- Redness of the skin of the palms.
- Seal organ.
- The emergence of spider veins.
- The appearance of "liver spots".
- Accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum.
- Enlarged spleen.
- Menstrual irregularities and infertility.
- Violation of potency in men.
It should be noted that with decompensated cirrhosis of the liver, symptoms appear gradually, violating the quality of human life.
Diagnostics
Timely diagnosis of the disease allows you to start treatment before the onset of irreversible consequences. Diagnosis of decompensated cirrhosis of the liver includes a number of laboratory and instrumental methods of examination. The following are considered the most informative:
- General urine analysis. With the development of pathology, protein, red blood cells and salts are determined.
- General blood analysis. The degree of cirrhosis is indicated by lower hemoglobin, an increase in ESR and leukocytosis.
- Blood chemistry. Indicates an increase in bilirubin, AST, phosphatase. This reduces the level of protein, cholesterol and urea.
- Ultrasound examination of the liver and other organs of the abdominal cavity. A decrease in the liver indicates its deformation. This condition is very dangerous and requires immediate treatment.
- Biopsy. Using this diagnostic method, the degree of organ damage is investigated.
- Laparoscopy. This is a surgical examination method that allows you to determine the degree of cirrhosis, organ functioning and general appearance.
- MRI or computed tomography.
Treatment
The tactics of treating decompensated cirrhosis of the liver will depend on many factors. The general condition of the organ, the degree of tissue damage, the age and condition of the patient are taken into account. But even if treatment begins at the first symptoms of this stage, it will be very difficult to stop the destruction of the liver. Therefore, in most cases, maintenance therapy is prescribed.
The following methods are used as treatment: drug therapy, surgery and diet.
Among the drugs, the following groups of drugs are used:
- Hepatoprotectors. These are medicines whose function is to protect the liver from the adverse effects of toxins and harmful substances. They also help to neutralize toxic products and increase the regeneration of liver cells.
- Detoxifiers. Drugs that remove toxic substances from the body.
- Immunosuppressants. Used in organ transplants.
- Cholagogue drugs.
- Immunostimulants.
- Diuretics.
- Vitamin complexes.
- Antiviral drugs that are most important in the case of the viral nature of decompensated cirrhosis.
- Antibiotics that are prescribed for the development of complications.
- Iron preparations are indicated in cases of lower hemoglobin.
Surgery
It can be used for very severe illness. The most common method in this case is liver transplantation, which, with a favorable outcome, will increase the life expectancy of a person. But it is important to know that this method does not always bring a positive result, since a transplanted organ can be rejected by the body. A donor liver transplant can be indicated if the chance of recovery is at least 50%.
Diet therapy
Diet with decompensated cirrhosis plays an important role. This is due to the inability of the body to perform its protective and metabolic functions. Specialists with this pathology recommend eating according to diet plan No. 5. Eating should be done several times a day in small portions. With a complicated course of the disease, it is recommended to grind food to a puree state. Consider the main recommendations.
- High-fat foods, legumes, and spicy, salty, smoked foods are prohibited.
- It is worth giving up strong tea and coffee.
- Drinking alcohol is strictly prohibited.
- It is also necessary to exclude carbonated drinks and sweets.
- Animal protein in the diet should be limited.
Prevention
Preventive measures will minimize the risk of cirrhosis. It is only necessary to observe some rules:
- Do not abuse alcoholic beverages.
- Eat right, refusing fatty, spicy foods.
- Wash hands and foods thoroughly before eating.
- Do not smoke or use drugs.
- Hepatitis Prevention
- The treatment of chronic diseases.
- Blood pressure control.
- Vitamin Therapy.
Possible complications
Since with cirrhosis of the liver, the body loses its ability to resist harmful substances, against the background of this, various pathological conditions can occur. For instance:
- Bleeding that most often occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and esophagus.
- Hepatic encephalopathy.
- Ascites. This is an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneum. Its consequence is the attachment of a secondary infection, which can lead to the development of peritonitis.
- The appearance of hernias.
- Malignant formations.
- Coma.
Forecast
With decompensated liver cirrhosis, the prognosis, unfortunately, is in most cases unfavorable. This is especially true of older people and women, as they are more susceptible to the development of the disease.
At this stage of cirrhosis, the liver is so affected that it is no longer able to regenerate. And the secondary diseases of the body that arise in this case only aggravate the course of the disease. For example, with bacterial peritonitis in the vast majority of cases, patients die. And with the development of severe bleeding, a fatal outcome can occur instantly. Hepatic encephalopathy disrupts consciousness and ultimately leads to coma. As a result, a person dies.
With timely treatment, the likelihood of an increase in life expectancy increases significantly. In other cases, a person can live with this diagnosis for no more than five years.
Conclusion
Decompensated cirrhosis is a very dangerous disease. Despite this, by carrying out preventive measures, the risk of its occurrence can be minimized. It is necessary to monitor your health and for any alarming changes occurring in the body, consult a doctor as soon as possible.