About 4.5 million, or 1.8%, of U.S. adults have liver disease.
Cirrhosis is a late-stage liver disease that can cause GI-related complications, including digestive issues, malabsorption, malnutrition, esophageal varices, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Liver transplants are a common solution after liver failure, and the success rate for liver transplant surgery is between 85% and 90%.
Did you know that according to the American Liver Foundation, 4.5 million U.S. adults have been diagnosed with liver disease. Not only that, it’s estimated that 80-100 million U.S. adults have fatty liver disease, with many of them unaware that they have the condition.
Patients with liver disease, specifically cirrhosis, have been reported to have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal bloating, abdominal pain, belching, diarrhea, and constipation. In fact, it’s been reported that up to 80% of cirrhosis patients have one or more relevant gastrointestinal symptoms.
At Charleston GI, our board-certified gastroenterologists are here to address any GI issues you may be experiencing as a result of liver disease or a different condition. Let’s learn more about liver disease and related GI issues below.
UNDERSTANDING LIVER CIRRHOSIS
Chronic liver disease can be categorized into four stages:
Stage 1: Hepatitis
Stage 2: Fibrosis
Stage 3: Cirrhosis
Stage 4: Liver failure
As one of the late stages of liver disease, liver cirrhosis is permanent scarring in the liver which negatively impacts liver function and can lead to liver failure. This stage is a result of continual hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) over an extended amount of time.
Early on, you may experience symptoms like nausea or loss of appetite, fatigue, malaise (feeling generally unwell), pain in your upper abdomen, spider angiomas (visible blood vessels that resemble spiders), and redness on your palms. Later on, you may experience symptoms related to declining liver function like jaundice, itchy skin, dark-colored urine, light-colored stool, digestive issues, and more. You may also experience symptoms related to portal hypertension like swelling in your abdomen, hands, feet, legs, and/or face, easy bleeding and bruising, blood in vomit or stool, and more.
Complications of liver cirrhosis may include digestive issues, malabsorption, malnutrition, gastrointestinal varices, and gastrointestinal bleeding.
Although the damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, measures can be taken to attempt to slow down or halt the progression of cirrhosis. These measures may include medication and changes in diet and lifestyle. Your condition may ultimately require a liver transplant.
If you experience any GI symptoms, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with one of our experienced gastroenterologists.
The first symptoms of liver disease may include fatigue, and malaise. While symptoms may not show up right away, liver disease symptoms at a later stage may include:
Edema (swelling of the feet, ankles, legs, face, hands)
Ascites (swelling of the abdomen)
Pruritus (itchy skin)
Dark urine
Bleeding and bruising easily
Weight loss and muscle loss
And more
WHEN YOU SHOULD VISIT A DOCTOR
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above (jaundice, edema, ascites, pruritus, dark urine, pale stool, etc.) or any other painful or concerning symptoms, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor promptly.
DIAGNOSTIC TEST
Once you’ve made an appointment, you can expect to discuss your health history and undergo a physical exam during your visit. After that, you may undergo tests like:
Blood tests: These include liver function tests, which can diagnose liver disease.
Imaging tests: These include an ultrasound, a CT scan, and an MRI, which can reveal liver damage.
Biopsy: This procedure removes a tissue sample from the liver for testing.
TREATMENT
When it comes to treating liver disease, treatment options vary, depending on the diagnosis. Treatments can include medicine, surgery, or simply lifestyle changes.
Lifestyle changes might look like abstaining from or limiting alcohol intake, eating healthily (including limiting fat), managing weight, and other changes. With chronic liver failure, however, you will ultimately require a liver transplant in order to survive.
PREVENTION
Dietary Habits
Eat a healthy, balanced diet
Stay hydrated
Limit or avoid alcohol
Lifestyle
Exercise regularly
Maintain a healthy weight
Avoid illicit drug use
Protection
Avoid exposure to toxins, which can be found in cleaning supplies, insecticides, and other sources.
Avoid contaminated needles, which may include needles from drug use, tattoos, and body piercings.
Avoid sharing personal hygiene items like razors.
Avoid unprotected sex.
Avoid exposure to others’ blood, if possible, but if you do come in contact with blood, be sure to contact your doctor right away.
Wash your hands when needed (after using the restroom, before handling food, etc.)
Get vaccinated — hepatitis A and hepatitis B vaccines are available.
The CDC highlights that about 4.5 million, or 1.8%, of U.S. adults have liver disease. Annually, liver disease is the cause of about 57,000 deaths in the U.S. and about two million deaths in the world.
Is liver disease fatal?
It can be. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are over 100 types of liver disease; some are curable, and some are not. Treatment often involves lifestyle changes and eating a healthy diet. Chronic liver failure, which happens over time, will ultimately lead to death unless a liver transplant occurs.
Can you live without your liver?
No. Your liver is essential for life. This organ is responsible for filtering your blood, aiding in digestion, and many other functions your body requires. If you develop chronic liver failure, a liver transplant will eventually be required in order for you to survive.
Can a liver grow back by itself?
Yes, the liver can regrow itself at times — even after up to 90% has been removed!11 If you receive a part of a liver from a living donor, both parts of the liver — the part now in your body and the part left in the donor’s body — can grow back to full size.
Can you get a liver transplant?
Yes, you may be able to get a liver transplant, but securing a liver may be difficult since the demand is high.
Liver transplants are usually for those who have liver failure or primary liver cancer. Most liver transplants involve a whole liver that comes from a deceased donor, but some liver transplants involve part of a liver that comes from a living donor.
What is the success rate of liver transplants?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the success rate for liver transplant surgery is between 85% and 90%. Patients who undergo this procedure can often go back to work within one to two months and resume all other activities within six to 12 months.
What is the life expectancy after liver transplant?
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the average survival rate after a liver transplant is 75% after five years and 53% after 20 years. However, survival will depend on a variety of factors like age and overall health.
What GI complications are the result of liver disease?
With cirrhosis, a late-stage liver disease, GI-related complications can include:
Digestive issues
Malabsorption: a digestive disorder that affects your body’s ability to absorb nutrients from food.
Malnutrition: a nutrient imbalance in your body, which can mean too few or too many nutrients
Esophageal varices: veins in the lining of your esophagus that are swollen and may rupture.
Gastrointestinal bleeding
What are some of the risk factors for liver disease?
Liver disease has a variety of risk factors, including:
Heavy alcohol consumption
Getting body piercings or tattoos
Having unprotected sex
Sharing needles for drug use
Received a blood transfusion before 1992
Have a family history of liver disease
Obesity
Type 2 diabetes
Contact with chemicals and toxins
Contact with others’ blood and body fluids
What is liver cirrhosis?
Liver cirrhosis is permanent scarring in the liver that is a result of continual hepatitis, known as inflammation of the liver, over an extended amount of time.
In response to continued inflammation, the liver produces excessive scar tissue which negatively impacts liver function. Causes may include alcohol-induced hepatitis from heavy drinking, chronic hepatitis C or B infection, and more.
How long can you live with liver cirrhosis?
The answer won’t be the same for everyone. Life expectancy will depend on how far the cirrhosis has progressed, your overall health, treatment availability and results, and other factors.
Is cirrhosis classed as a terminal illness?
While cirrhosis cannot be cured and may eventually lead to liver failure, measures can be taken to slow down or halt its progression. Treatment may include medication, changes in diet and lifestyle, and even a liver transplant.
SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. NO REFERRAL NEEDED.
If you’re ready to take control of your health and address the GI issues you may be experiencing, schedule your appointment with our gastroenterology experts today — no referral needed.
Here at Charleston GI, our team is committed to providing exceptional care for all of our patients. No matter what your GI condition is, you can trust your health to our experienced gastroenterologists.
If you have any questions, feel free to give us a call or contact us online.
