Introduction
Cirrhosis of the liver is an irreversible disease and damage to liver tissue that can occur as a result of various chronic liver diseases. The liver is an organ of the upper abdomen that performs numerous vital functions of the body such as detoxification functions or the production of various hormones and coagulation-promoting substances. Liver diseases such as inflammation or alcohol-induced remodelling processes can lead to structural changes in the liver cells and conversion to connective tissue, which progressively limits the function of the liver.
At the onset of the disease, healthy liver parts can compensate for the lost functions and make up for them. Only when the majority of the liver has lost its function do severe symptoms and secondary diseases occur. The changes are determined on the basis of symptoms, blood values and other medical examinations. In order to be able to diagnose the extent of the liver damage more accurately, a number of the values obtained are combined to form the so-called “Child-Pugh Classification”. This comprises three degrees of liver cirrhosis, with the “Child C” degree being associated with the worst prognosis.
Stage Child A
Child A grade describes cirrhosis of the liver that is not yet clinically advanced. The classification includes, for example, the albumin and bilirubin concentrations in the blood, but also the state of blood clotting. In addition, the presence of abdominal fluid, as well as concomitant brain damage, worsens the degree of liver cirrhosis. In a stage Child A, all of these values can be within the normal range, so that the healthy parts of the liver completely compensate for the loss of function of the cirrhotic liver. Survival prognosis is normal in this stage and with elimination of the underlying cause, further liver damage can still be halted.
Stage Child B
Stage Child B describes a more advanced stage of liver cirrhosis, which is already accompanied by changes in laboratory values and often also by noticeable symptoms and complaints. Based on the 5 criteria of classification, a score can be calculated according to which the stages are assigned. In stage B, slight to severe changes must already be evident in several categories.
These may be caused by cirrhosis of the liver. Liver function can no longer be fully compensated by healthy liver cells, so that further symptoms must be expected. By means of therapeutic measures, the remodelling processes of the liver can still be halted to a certain extent, so that the annual survival rate is still about 85%. Nevertheless, this is a life-threatening and highly advanced disease.
- Increased albumin and bilirubin levels,
- A slowing down of blood clotting or
- The occurrence of abdominal fluid or
- Cognitive and neurological limitations
