Cirrosis of the Liver Treatment

Cirrhosis of the liver is a serious condition in which healthy liver tissue is damaged and replaced by scar tissue. This causes the liver to not be able to function properly. The causes of cirrhosis of the liver are varied and include alcohol- and drug-induced liver disease, hepatitis infection, and autoimmune conditions. Cirrhosis can develop into liver cancer. Treatment of cirrhosis of the liver depends on the primary cause of the condition, the progression of the damage and the stage of the disease.

Diet

• One of the initial recommended lifestyle changes is reducing the amount of sodium in the diet. This helps reduce the amount of fluid buildup in the abdomen.

Other Lifestyle Changes

• If a cirrhosis patient drinks alcoholic beverages, the doctor will advise him to stop. Alcohol abuse will cause the disease to progress at a much faster rate.

Antihypertensives

• The development of scar tissue hinders the flow of blood through the liver and, as a result, the blood pressure in the liver increases, causing portal hypertension. This complication of cirrhosis is treated with antihypertensive medications like beta blockers and nitrates.

Diuretics

• Along with a dietary restriction of sodium, the physician may prescribe a diuretic to help remove excess fluid from the body. The type of diuretic used will depend on the severity of the cirrhosis and the existence of other conditions.

Surgery

• In some cases, the physician may decide that surgery is the best way to treat obstruction of hepatic, or liver, blood vessels. This may be done by either an ablation or decompression procedure.

Liver Transplant

• When conventional treatments fail to slow the progression of cirrhosis-related complications, a liver transplant may be suggested. Once the extensive qualification process is completed, liver transplantation is then limited by the availability of a matching, healthy organ.