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Description of disease:

Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver functions abnormally due to injuries made to liver cells that destroy the structure of the liver. The injured liver cells form a scar tissue and afterwards other liver cells multiply in order to replace the dead ones, this results in clusters which block the bile flow. In consequence, metabolic functions are damaged and portal hypertension begins.

There are many causes of cirrhosis, one of them is alcohol abuse, chronic hepatitis B, C and D, toxic substances, primary biliary cirrhosis, autoimmune liver disease and some inherited diseases.

Cirrhosis cannot be cured and its effects can't be reversed, but the disease may be prevented and its development slowed down. Both alcohol and paracetamol must be eliminated from the diet, which should be balanced, low-protein with low salt consumption. There are 5 types of cirrhosis:
- biliary cirrhosis
- alcohol induced cirrhosis
- genetically determined cirrhosis

Symptoms:


abdominal and pelvic pain
ascites
decreased libido
fatigue and exhaustion
gynecomastia
hypogonadism (lack of function of the gonads)
loss of appetite
nausea and vomitting
stomach ache
weight loss



Research:


Biopsy of the liver
Blood cell count
Computed tomography
Histopathological examination
USG of the abdominal cavity



Doctors :


Gastroenterologist


Hepatologist





Added by:
Added on: 0000-00-00 00:00:00 , Updated: 2008-04-08 13:20:10
Bibliography: http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/dept/gi/cirrhosis.html

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