Compensated cirrhosis is the initial stage of liver cirrhosis, with mild or no symptoms, but it can progress to decompensated cirrhosis if left untreated. Risk factors include lifestyle and underlying health problems, and treatment involves antiviral therapy and lifestyle changes.
Cirrhosis is a liver disease that is generally divided into two phases: compensated and decompensated. Compensated cirrhosis means that the liver is still functioning relatively well despite any scarring or fibrosis. People with this type of cirrhosis usually have mild or no symptoms, but they should still be treated. If compensated cirrhosis is not treated early, it can lead to more severe decompensated cirrhosis. Risk factors include lifestyle and contributing health issues, such as rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis B and C, and inflammatory bowel disease.
According to medical sources, the word cirrhosis comes from the Greek term scirrhus and refers to the medical condition that leaves brown or orange patches on the liver. Compensated cirrhosis is usually the initial stage of liver cirrhosis or chronic liver disease. A person with this stage of cirrhosis likely has liver scarring or discoloration, but the liver still generates enough healthy cells to function normally.
Some people with compensated cirrhosis experience no symptoms and can live for several years before experiencing any type of liver-related liver disease or failure. Others with the early stage of the disease may experience fatigue, low energy, abdominal pain, nausea, weight loss and loss of appetite. Patients may also develop spider angiomas or small red spots on the skin.
Lifestyle factors and underlying health problems tend to cause compensated cirrhosis. Heavy alcohol use usually leads to liver disease over time. Other culprits that put people at risk include non-alcoholic fatty liver disease caused by a high-fat diet and hepatitis B and C, which inflame liver cells. People with autoimmune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma or inflammatory bowel disease can also develop liver disease.
Treatment for the condition often requires HCV antiviral therapy, which includes drugs typically used to treat similar conditions, such as hepatitis C. Drugs do not cure liver scarring; they work to slow the progression of the disease.
If left untreated, the liver can deteriorate and progress to decompensated or advanced-stage cirrhosis. Symptoms in this case include jaundice or yellowing of the skin and fluid buildup in the abdomen, legs and feet. Doctors usually take a patient’s medical history and conduct a physical exam followed by a blood test, an imaging test, and a liver biopsy to diagnose the stage of the cirrhosis.
Lifestyle changes can also reduce the risk of liver failure or other complications. Reducing your salt intake and eating healthier foods reduces the fluid buildup often associated with cirrhosis. Patients must stop drinking alcohol altogether to avoid further liver scarring. Medications like ibuprofen and herbal supplements like kava kava reportedly cause fibrosis, so it’s best to consult a doctor before taking them.
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