Cirrhosis
What is the Treatment for Cirrhosis?
Treatment of cirrhosis depends on the cause of the condition and whether complications exist. Depending on the type of hepatitis virus, interferon and specific antiviral medications may be prescribed, corticosteroids and other immune suppressing drugs may be required to treat autoimmune hepatitis, diuretics may be prescribed for edema and ascites to remove fluid from the body, and antibiotics may be administered for infection. Depending on the type and severity of complications, hospitalization may be required.
The process leading to cirrhosis can often be slowed and sometimes even halted. Treating the underlying cause of cirrhosis can prevent further liver damage and reduce complications, such as treatment for alcohol dependency and medications to control the hepatitis B or C virus.
All individuals with cirrhosis will benefit by making the following lifestyle changes:
- Totally eliminate the consumption of alcohol
- Eat a nutritious diet which includes plenty of fruits and vegetables
- Exercise regularly and get plenty of rest
- Abstain from using illicit drugs
- Do not share toothbrushes, razors, needles or other personal items with others
- Avoid tattoos and piercings
- Consult the advice of a physician before using certain prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs and herbal supplements
- Limit dietary sodium
- Limit the risk of infection by avoiding people who are ill and discuss getting vaccinated for influenza, pneumonia, hepatitis A and hepatitis B with a physician
- Avoid eating raw shellfish
- Practice safe sex (to prevent the risk of contracting a disease that could further damage the liver)
Individuals with advanced cirrhosis whose liver has stopped functioning may require a liver transplant. During a liver transplant procedure, the diseased, non-functioning liver is removed and replaced with a healthy liver donated by a deceased person or a portion of a healthy liver from a living donor.
References
American Liver Foundation “Cirrhosis” http://www.liverfoundation.org/abouttheliver/info/cirrhosis/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “Parasites – Schistosomiasis” http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/schistosomiasis/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
Mayo Clinic “Cirrhosis” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cirrhosis/DS00373/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
Mayo Clinic “Toxic Hepatitis” http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/toxic-hepatitis/DS00811/DSECTION=causes Retrieved March 31, 2011
MedicineNet.com “Cachexia” http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=11065/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
MedicineNet.com “What is Congestive Heart Failure?” http://www.medicinenet.com/congestive_heart_failure/article.htm/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse “What is Cirrhosis?” http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/index.htm/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
PubMed Health “Cirrhosis” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001301/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
PubMed.gov “Liver Disease in Cystic Fibrosis” http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17901760/ Retrieved March 31, 2011
US Department of Health and Human Services – National Institutes of Health “What is Cystic Fibrosis?” http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/cf/cf_what.html Retrieved March 31, 2011
US National Library of Medicine NIH National Institutes of Health “Hepatic Vein Obstruction (Budd-Chiari)” http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000239.htm/ Retrieved March 31, 2011