I'm Dr. Sumera Ilyas,
a transplant hepatologist at Mayo Clinic.
In this video, we'll cover
the basics of cirrhosis.
What is it? Who gets it?
The symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.
Whether you're looking for answers for
yourself or someone you love,
we're here to give you
the best information available.
Put simply, cirrhosis is
scarring of the liver.
Any time an organ is injured,
it tries to repair itself.
And when this happens,
scar tissue forms.
As more scar tissue forms in the liver,
it becomes harder for it to function.
Cirrhosis is usually a result
of liver damage from conditions such as
hepatitis B or C, or chronic alcohol use.
The damage done by cirrhosis
typically cannot be undone.
But if caught early enough
and depending on the cause,
there is a chance of
slowing it with treatment.
And even in the most severe cases,
liver transplants and new treatments
provide those suffering from
cirrhosis with hope.
Any kind of disease or condition that
harms the liver can lead
to cirrhosis over time.
About 2% of American adults have
liver disease, and therefore
are at risk of developing cirrhosis.
However, those who drink too much alcohol,
those who are overweight and those with
viral hepatitis are at a greater risk.
Not everyone with these risk
factors develops cirrhosis.
These are the leading causes
of liver disease.
A wide range of other conditions and
diseases can cause cirrhosis as well.
Some include inflammation and
scarring of the bile ducts,
known as primary sclerosing cholangitis;
iron buildup in the body -
what we call haemochromatosis;
Copper accumulation in the liver,
which is a rare condition
called Wilson's disease;
and inflammation from
the body's own immune system
harming liver cells,
known as autoimmune hepatitis.
Often, cirrhosis shows no signs or
symptoms until liver damage is extensive.
When symptoms do occur,
they may first include fatigue,
weakness and weight loss, nausea,
bruising or bleeding easily,
swelling in your legs, feet or ankles,
itchy skin, redness on
the palms of your hands,
and spider-like blood vessels on your skin.
During later stages,
you might develop jaundice,
which is yellowing of the eyes or skin;
gastrointestinal bleeding;
abdominal swelling from
fluid building up in the belly;
and confusion or drowsiness.
If you notice any of these symptoms,
you should speak to your doctor.
Since you may not have
any symptoms in the early
stages of the disease,
cirrhosis is often detected
through routine blood tests or checkups.
If your doctor find something suspicious,
further blood tests may be necessary.
These can help identify how
extensive your cirrhosis is
by checking for liver malfunction,
liver damage, or screening for
causes of cirrhosis such
as hepatitis viruses.
Based on the results,
your doctor maybe able to
diagnose the underlying cause of cirrhosis.
They may also recommend imaging tests
like an MR elastogram
that checks for scarring in the liver,
or an MRI of the abdomen,
CT scan or an ultrasound.
A biopsy may also be
required to identify the severity,
extent and cause of liver damage.
Although the damage caused by
cirrhosis is not reversible,
treatment can slow
the progression of the disease,
alleviate symptoms,
and prevent complications.
In cases of early cirrhosis,
it is possible to minimize damage to
the liver by tackling the underlying causes.
For instance,
treating alcohol addiction, losing weight,
and using medications to
treat viral hepatitis and
other conditions can limit
damage to the liver.
Once the liver stops functioning, an
organ transplant may be an option.
During a transplant, surgeons remove
the damaged liver and replace
it with a healthy working liver.
In fact, cirrhosis is one of
the most common reasons
for a liver transplant.
You and your medical team will
need to assess if you are
an appropriate candidate
through a transplant evaluation.
Surgery is a big undertaking,
one that brings its own risks
and complications.
And it should always be
a decision between you,
your family, and your doctors.
If you're concerned about
your risk of cirrhosis,
talk to your doctor.
Life with cirrhosis can be challenging,
but with the right information,
the right medical team
and the right treatment,
there's reason to be encouraged.
Health professionals learn
more and more every day
about the conditions and
diseases that damage our livers.
Studies investigating new treatments
that can slow and even
reverse the scarring that leads
to cirrhosis are currently underway.
For those with cirrhosis,
the future is brighter than ever before.
If you'd like to learn even
more about cirrhosis,
watch our other related videos
or visit Mayo Clinic.org.
We wish you well.