Fibrosis of the liver: causes, types, treatment

Fibrosis of the liver is the gradual replacement of hepatic cells with a connective tissue, as a result of excessive production of collagen. Fibrosis of the liver is caused by violations of blood outflow in the hepatic veins, and in contrast to cirrhosis is characterized by a complete lack of cell regeneration. This disease develops very slowly, does not manifest itself in any way, ie, it is asymptomatic. The first symptoms of the disease appear only after six to eight years.

At present, several factors of the onset of liver fibrosis are classified. These include: prolonged drug, alcohol and toxic poisoning, heredity, congenital fibrosis, chronic viral hepatitis, diabetes, obesity, a prolonged deficit of certain minerals and vitamins.

The development of liver fibrosis leads to such functional and structural consequences as: violation of the exchange processes between blood in sinusoids and hepatocytes, shunting of blood, promoting the development of cirrhosis, reducing efficiency and narrowing the range of therapeutic measures.

Depending on the prevalence of the process and its localization, the following forms of this disease are distinguished:

- periveneular and venular fibrosis, developing in the center of lobes and on the walls of the hepatic veins. This type of fibrosis is most typical for chronic cardiovascular insufficiency and chronic alcoholic hepatitis;

- Pericellular fibrosis. Most often observed with alcoholic hepatic disease and chronic viral hepatitis;

- septal liver fibrosis, arising on the site of bridge necrosis;

- Portal and periportal liver fibrosis, which is a characteristic feature of chronic hepatitis of various origins: viral, autoimmune or alcoholic;

- Periductal (cardiac) fibrosis of the liver, observed with sclerosing cholangitis and representing a concentric proliferation of fibrous tissue of different caliber around the bile duct;

- mixed fibrosis, which is the most common form, in which other forms of fibrosis are represented in different ratios.

The main symptoms of liver fibrosis, manifested a few years after the onset of the disease, are:

- the presence of bleeding from the esophagus;

- increase in liver size;

- enlargement of the spleen;

- Thrombocytopenia.

Fibrosis of the liver is very poorly treatable, which is usually aimed at correcting existing syndromes of the disease. In the presence of pronounced hypersplenism splenectomy is performed with the application of splenorenal anastomosis. To stop bleeding from the varicose veins of the stomach and esophagus enlarged as a result of varicose veins, endoscopic sclerotherapy of the veins or gastrotoemia with stitching is performed.

Prevention of liver fibrosis consists in getting rid of bad habits, minimizing the intake of drugs of synthetic origin, in the presence of excess weight - taking measures to get rid of it, moving to the right balanced diet. In addition, an additional intake of microelements and vitamins is recommended. If liver fibrosis is detected, the liver load should be minimized, regular intake of drugs facilitating the cleansing of the liver and the body as a whole, as well as the normalization of its work. The prognosis largely depends on what kind of fibrosis has developed. The congenital form of fibrosis is very rare.

Recall that liver fibrosis develops asymptomatically for many years, up to the development of cirrhosis, so if you are diagnosed with "hepatitis" or you have hepatic insufficiency, there is a high probability of a liver predisposition to the process of fibrosis.