Liver Cirrhosis in Baton Rouge, LA
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Find a ProviderWhat is liver cirrhosis?
Your liver is an organ that carries out a multitude of critical jobs necessary for your health, like filtering the blood of harmful toxins and metabolizing fat. Cirrhosis of the liver, also referred to as hepatic cirrhosis, describes the condition that develops when the liver is inflamed and scarred from issues like chronic alcohol abuse and late-stage liver disease. As further scar tissue forms, liver function continually diminishes. The different grades of severity surrounding liver cirrhosis are classified into four stages.
Stage 1: Some scarring of liver tissue but there are not many symptoms and no complications.
Stage 2: Further symptoms present, including swollen and enlarged veins and hypertension in the portal vein in the liver (portal hypertension).
Stage 3: Symptoms in this stage include swelling in the abdomen and advanced scarring of liver tissue, accompanied by significant complications and the potential for liver failure.
Stage 4: This stage can be fatal without a liver transplant.
At Gastroenterology Associates, our GI providers can diagnose, address, and help manage liver diseases. To get care for liver cirrhosis in Baton Rouge, LA, please request an appointment at your nearest location today.
What causes liver cirrhosis?
There are an array of reasons why a liver can be damaged, which could lead to cirrhosis. Some of these factors include:
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Iron buildup in the body
- Certain medications
- Sugar metabolism disorders
- Viral liver infections (hepatitis B & C)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Poorly formed bile ducts
- Infection
- Obesity
- Destruction of the bile ducts
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Liver disease caused by autoimmune hepatitis
- Wilson’s disease
- Inherited GI conditions
What are the signs and symptoms of liver cirrhosis?
The beginning stages of liver cirrhosis may not carry any symptoms. However, some of the initial signs that you might notice may include tiredness, physical weakness, and lack of appetite. If the condition proceeds to advance, symptoms might include:
- Bruising
- Bleeding easily
- Swelling in the legs
- Fever
- Itching
- Spider web-like veins
- Redness of the palms
- Brown-tinted urine
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Jaundice
- Swollen abdomen
- Vomiting
- Unexpected weight loss or gain
- Blood in the stool
How is liver cirrhosis treated?
Liver damage cannot be undone; however, the liver can often still work even if two-thirds of the organ has been damaged or removed. Listed below are several of the treatment methods our Baton Rouge, LA gastroenterologists might recommend to help increase the liver's capacity to function:
- Antiviral medications for hepatitis B and C
- Reduce the risk of additional damage to the liver
- Immunization for hepatitis A and B
- Managing the individual concerns surrounding your condition
- Undergo a liver transplant
- Avoid certain medications (naproxen, ibuprofen, etc.)
What are the complications of liver cirrhosis?
The liver maintains a very important role in the body, and any level of injury or damage inflicted upon the liver will inhibit its ability to function normally. Some of the possible complications of liver cirrhosis involve:
- Hypersplenism (overactive splenic function)
- Liver cancer
- Bacterial peritonitis (an inflamed abdominal wall)
- Hepatic encephalopathy (a buildup of toxins in the blood leading to brain damage)
Find specialized treatment for liver health
Liver cirrhosis can impact your life and health in several ways. At Gastroenterology Associates, we endeavor to help you experience a life where further damage to the liver is avoided. To receive treatment for liver cirrhosis in Baton Rouge, LA, request an appointment with one of our GI providers without delay.
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