$Unique_ID{BRK01369}
$Pretitle{Digestive System}
$Title{What Other Conditions Besides Drinking Cause Cirrhosis?}
$Subject{cirrhosis hepatitis virus}
$Volume{I-8}
$Log{
Cirrhosis-Overview*0009701.scf
Cirrhosis-Causes*0009702.scf
Cirrhosis-Symptoms*0009703.scf}

Copyright (c) 1991   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


What Other Conditions Besides Drinking Cause Cirrhosis?


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QUESTION:  My oldest son has always had the worst luck with his health.  Even
as a young man he was diagnosed as suffering from chronic hepatitis.  Now he's
been told that he has cirrhosis.  I thought people got that disease because
they drank too much.  I have never been aware that my son has any type of
drinking problem.  Surely there must be other possibilities and other causes
that you could discuss in your column, Please?

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ANSWER:  While it's true that cirrhosis most commonly affects people who are
chronic alcohol abusers, there are a number of other conditions that can also
lead to cirrhosis.  Unfortunately for your son, one of these conditions is
chronic viral hepatitis.  Cirrhosis is a disease of the liver.  The liver is
located just under the lower ribs on the right side of the body.  It is the
largest internal organ, weighing about 3 pounds.  The healthy liver is soft
and smooth.  It is connected to the small intestine by the bile duct, which
carries bile formed in the liver to the intestines.  The liver is a chemical
factory.  Almost all of the blood that leaves the stomach and intestines
passes through it.
     Among the many functions of this life-sustaining organ are the production
of blood clotting factors, blood proteins, bile and countless enzymes.  It's
also the place where cholesterol is metabolized, old red blood cells are
broken down and the normal blood sugar level is maintained.  One reason
chronic alcoholism leads to cirrhosis is that the liver is also responsible
for detoxifying the blood of drugs and poisons, including alcohol.
     The liver cells of people with cirrhosis have become damaged.  Healthy
tissue has been replaced by scar tissue, which interferes with the free flow
of blood through the liver.  The vital, life-sustaining functions of the liver
thus become handicapped.
     You may be right when you say your son has had bad luck in getting
cirrhosis.  Only a very small percentage of people with viral hepatitis
develop cirrhosis.  Fortunately, organizations such as the American Liver
Foundation are continually researching this disease, which at this point kills
about 30,000 Americans a year.  Researchers are trying to learn how to
interrupt the scarring process that sets in with cirrhosis.
     For certain types of cirrhosis caused by hepatitis, corticosteroids are
being used to help the patients.  Doctors are also experimenting with drugs
such as interferon to improve the immune response to viral infections.
Anti-viral compounds are also being used with limited success to help destroy
the hepatitis virus.
     If your son's cirrhosis had been diagnosed at an early stage, then
treatment might have been able to stop or reverse the course of the disease.
This is just another situation in which my often stated plea for medical care
that offers the chance for early diagnosis, may be translated into more
complete cures.  However, when liver damage is extensive, the chances for
recovery are not favorable.  However there are still many avenues of treatment
that help overcome some of the problems created by the damage.  A nutritious
diet, supplemented by vitamins, is essential, and all alcoholic beverages are
prohibited.  Frequent medical evaluation to check on liver functions are in
order, for early treatment of any developing complications can reduce their
negative effects.
ÿ
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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace 
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your 
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical 
problem.
