Is hepatitis B cirrhosis serious?

Written by Zhang Jian Kang
Infectious Disease
Updated on September 15, 2024
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After infection with the hepatitis B virus, it may cause repeated inflammatory damage to the liver. If hepatitis B is not well-controlled, it can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis. The symptoms of liver cirrhosis mainly manifest as repeated fatigue, poor appetite, yellowing of the eyes, yellow urine, and discomfort in the upper abdomen after eating, etc. If the cirrhosis due to hepatitis B is in a compensated stage, such as liver cirrhosis suggested by ultrasonography and mild abnormalities in liver function, and the symptoms are not very severe, this type of compensatory cirrhosis, relatively speaking, has a decent prognosis. With standard antiviral treatment, many patients can maintain a state of liver cirrhosis. However, if treatment is not further pursued and damage progresses, leading to decompensated liver cirrhosis, or if ascites has already developed, or even gastrointestinal bleeding occurs, then its prognosis is relatively poor, and this situation is very serious.

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Written by Huang Ya Juan
Gastroenterology
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Early symptoms of cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis is generally divided into compensated and decompensated stages: The compensated stage is actually an early stage of liver cirrhosis. During this stage, most patients do not show symptoms, or they may experience some mild symptoms such as abdominal discomfort, fatigue, loss of appetite, abdominal bloating, indigestion, diarrhea, etc. Decompensated stage: Early stages often present with fatigue and weakness, and later stages can include weight loss, loss of appetite, aversion to oily foods, abdominal bloating, diarrhea, fever, etc.; The liver is the only site of albumin synthesis, and during cirrhosis, reduced serum albumin can cause edema and ascites; the liver synthesizes most clotting factors, and cirrhosis can lead to coagulation disorders, clinically manifesting as gum bleeding, skin bruising, and nosebleeds; During cirrhosis, there can also be metabolic disorders of bilirubin and bile acids, leading to jaundice; Cirrhosis can also cause hormonal metabolic abnormalities, especially in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis, who may exhibit many characteristics of male dysfunction, including impotence, erectile dysfunction, testicular atrophy, loss of body hair and muscle mass, feminization, etc. Female patients may experience cessation or reduction of menstruation, excessive menstruation, infertility, etc.; Both male and female patients can develop osteoporosis, leading to spontaneous fractures.

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Written by Li Qiang
Intensive Care Unit
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Which is more serious, liver failure or cirrhosis?

Liver failure refers to a functional impairment of the liver, which could be acute or chronic damage. For instance, it could be the end stage of chronic liver disease, or an acute condition such as hepatitis, or another acute liver lesion. Other common lesions may also cause a sudden abnormality in liver function, resulting in severe liver dysfunction. At this point, liver cirrhosis is a common cause of liver failure. For example, in the middle and late stages of liver cirrhosis, liver function is completely decompensated, meaning the liver can no longer maintain its basic normal functions, leading to liver failure. Therefore, liver failure is one of the major consequences of liver cirrhosis, but the two are distinct. Liver failure can also be caused by other reasons not related to cirrhosis. For example, acute ischemia in the liver, such as in shock patients, can lead to liver ischemia and subsequently liver failure. Liver cirrhosis is just one of the common causes thereof.

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Written by Huang Gang
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How long does it take for fatty liver to progress to cirrhosis?

How long does it take for fatty liver to progress to cirrhosis? Fatty liver is generally divided into mild, moderate, and severe fatty liver. If it is mild or moderate fatty liver, it can be reversed through proper exercise and diet control, meaning it can be cured. However, once it progresses to severe fatty liver, it can easily develop into cirrhosis, but the specific time required is about five years. Therefore, once we have fatty liver, it must be taken very seriously. With the improvement of living standards, most people are obese, which means that fatty liver is mostly caused by obesity. In terms of treatment, the focus is mainly on the cause, which is obesity. Patients need to follow a reasonable diet and actively exercise to lose weight. If successful in losing weight, fatty liver can be reversed, and we do not have to worry about fatty liver developing into cirrhosis.

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What will happen if someone with cirrhosis occasionally stays up late?

Patients with cirrhosis occasionally staying up late may also exacerbate the extent of liver function impairment, thereby accelerating the progression of cirrhosis and causing some complications such as spontaneous peritonitis, liver failure, hepatic encephalopathy, etc. Therefore, patients with cirrhosis should also not stay up late occasionally. Patients with cirrhosis should pay attention to rest, combine work with rest, avoid staying up late, and avoid eating overly spicy and stimulating food. They should also consume more fresh vegetables and fruits rich in vitamins, regularly check liver function, and take treatments targeting the cause of cirrhosis and liver protection, etc.

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Can the liver regrow after partial removal due to cirrhosis?

First, let us understand the causes of cirrhosis. The most common cause is chronic hepatitis B, which can develop into hepatitis B-related cirrhosis over time. The second is chronic hepatitis C, which can also lead to hepatitis C and cirrhosis in the long term. Another type is alcoholic cirrhosis, which occurs due to long-term excessive alcohol consumption. Cirrhosis involves the hardening of the entire liver, not just parts of it; the whole organ becomes hardened, not just certain sections. Once the entire liver is hardened due to cirrhosis, it is not possible to just remove a part and expect a normal liver to grow back. Thus, unlike what might be suggested in some discussions, it is not feasible to remove a part of a cirrhotic liver with the expectation of regeneration. Liver cirrhosis cannot be partially removed; it is not operable in this way.