Fibrosis of the liver

Fibrosis of the liver develops as a result of replacement of liver cells with scar tissue. Causes of the disease are:

• viral infections;
• the effect of toxins, in the first place, compounds of heavy metals;
• excessive alcohol consumption;
• the use of narcotic substances;
• injuries;
• obesity ;
• diabetes;
• long-term use of certain medications.

Types of Liver Fibrosis

Depending on the cause of the formation of fibrous tissue, there are 3 types of disease:

1. Periportal liver fibrosis is the most common type of disease that occurs with cirrhosis and hepatitis, under the influence of toxins, prolonged consumption of medications.
2. Cardiac fibrosis develops due to a lack of blood supply to the body as a result of pathologies of the cardiovascular system.
3. Congenital fibrosis is a rare type of disease transmitted by inheritance.

Symptoms of liver fibrosis

The disease develops slowly, and for a long time its symptoms are almost invisible. The signs of the disease begin to appear after 5 to 6 years. These include:

• enlargement of the spleen;
• enlargement of the liver;
• indigestion disorder;
• venous bleeding in the esophagus;
• increased fatigue;
• decreased immunity;
• anemia;
• the formation of vascular "stars" and bruises on the body.

Degrees of hepatic fibrosis

The rate of progression of the disease depends on many factors (age, lifestyle, etc.) Currently, the degree of development of fibrosis in most countries is determined by the METAVIR scale:

1. F1 - fibrosis of 1 degree resembles inflammation of the spleen, when the connective tissue is small, but the content of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in the blood decreases.
2. F2 - liver fibrosis of the 2nd degree leads to more extensive changes in liver tissue.
3. With fibrosis 1 and 2 degrees, in the case of timely therapy, the forecast is quite favorable.
4. F3 - for the 3rd degree fibrosis, the formation of a significant amount of scar tissue is characteristic. The prognosis for grade 3 fibrosis depends on the characteristics of the body's response to medical therapy and the patient's follow-up to the recommendations of the specialist.
5. F4 - with 4 degrees of fibrosis the organ consists entirely of connective tissue. The process of transition from the previous degree takes only a few months. The prognosis for the 4th degree of fibrosis is unfavorable: the developed cirrhosis causes the death of the patient.

Is it possible to cure liver fibrosis?

Due to the seriousness of the disease, the timely diagnosis and systemic treatment of liver fibrosis is of decisive importance in getting rid of the disease. Therapy of the disease largely depends on the cause that caused fibrosis. Treatment includes medication administration:

• hepatoprotectors - drugs that ensure the activity of the cells of the body;
• cholagogue (in the absence of stones in the gallbladder and bile ducts);
• anti-inflammatory drugs;
• antioxidants, eliminating the effects of toxins and decay products in the body;
• immunomodulators, stimulating the immune system;
• glucocorticosteroids and cytostatics, which reduce the formation of scar tissue;
• Enzyme means (without bile), which promote digestion.

Physicians are convinced that the treatment of liver fibrosis even at the 3rd degree of the disease can be successful if, in addition to drug therapy, the patient maintains a healthy lifestyle and applies a diet with a restriction on the amount of protein, as well as table salt and the exclusion of fatty, fried, spicy, smoked food from the diet . It is desirable to take regular courses of vitamin complexes.