The early stage prognosis

Cirrhosis of the liver is a chronic progressive disease that can occur in various forms. Only when a large part of the liver is diseased and the healthy parts of the liver tissue are no longer able to compensate for the loss of function do the first symptoms and signs of liver cirrhosis appear. Depending on the severity of the disease, the clinical picture and prognosis of liver cirrhosis vary enormously.

In order to be able to assess the damage and consequences for the body, various criteria and values are determined and evaluated, the presence of which indicates the restriction of certain liver functions. For this purpose, the bilirubin and albumin levels in the blood are first determined. The status of the coagulation system can also be checked with a blood test using the so-called “quick value“.

Subsequently, the typical complications of liver cirrhosis such as ascites, the so-called “abdominal fluid” and hepatic encephalopathy, a functional disorder of the brain, are clinically examined. Based on these 5 criteria, a score can be determined, which classifies the disease into one of 3 stages according to the Child-Pugh classification. In the early stage, almost all liver functions are still intact, so there are no deviations in the scores obtained.

Cirrhosis of the liver is therefore present, but can be completely compensated by the rest of the liver. With adequate treatment of the underlying disease, the progression of cirrhosis can be prevented if necessary, so that the disease remains in its current stage. The prognosis regarding survival in this so-called “Child A” stage is almost unrestricted.Our next article might also be interesting for you: Nutrition in liver cirrhosis

The prognosis of the middle stage

The middle stage of liver cirrhosis is also called “stage child B”. On the basis of the 5 criteria mentioned, this stage results in a higher score, so that individual liver functions in clotting, detoxification or the production of important hormones and messenger substances are already restricted. This stage is already a life-threatening clinical picture, since a so-called “decompensation” with sudden severe functional impairment and secondary diseases due to liver insufficiency can occur at any time.

The secondary symptoms must be treated symptomatically in good time and examined by a physician to avoid severe, sudden bleeding, neurological limitations or other dangerous complications. The possibilities of causal therapy are limited at this stage. Although treatment of the underlying cause can slow down the progress of liver cirrhosis, the life-threatening form of the disease remains. Overall, a 1-year survival rate of 85% can be assumed in the middle stage of liver cirrhosis.