Introduction
Liver is the second most essential human organ which functions by making us healthy. It allows food digestion, digestion of nutrients, purifying blood, and preserving essential nutrients. Killing the liver step by step creates chronic liver parenchymal disease, which is a long-term illness which harms the liver’s functioning and creates life-threatening complications like liver failure.
Liver diseases are widespread all over the world. Liver disease is also accountable for the death of almost 2 million individuals annually, and chronic liver disease is amongst the most common reasons according to the estimates of WHO. Additionally, The majority of the population remains unaware of the initial symptoms of liver damage and therefore end up in late treatment and improper treatment.
Chronic liver parenchymal disease will be described in this article by etiology, signs and symptoms, treatment, and prevention of the disease. The article will also guide us on some queries related to it such as “Can liver parenchymal disease be treated?” and “What happens in chronic liver disease?”
What is Chronic Liver Parenchymal Disease?
The liver is also composed of functional tissue called parenchyma, and the parenchyma maintains the toxins in a separate distance from the nutrients, prevents toxic chemicals from invading the blood, and purges the body from the toxic chemicals. Moreover, The damaged parenchyma will go on trying to heal itself using inflammation and scarring (fibrosis) but eventually gives in after some amount of time.
Phases of Liver Damage
Liver damage is not abrupt, but rather it goes through four beautiful stages:
- Inflammation: The liver becomes inflamed, infected and swollen as a result of infection, toxins or fatty deposits.
- Fibrosis: The body tries to cure the inflammation and there is scarring.
- Cirrhosis: Severe scarring that hinders liver function and results in severe complications.
- Liver Failure: The liver is failing and must be put through liver transplant in order to survive.
Additionally, More than 1.5 billion individuals all over the world are affected by some kind of chronic liver disease, as recently demonstrated by a study in The Lancet (2022).
Etiology of Chronic Liver Parenchymal Disease
Some etiologies are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic liver parenchymal disease. Those are explained below:
1. Viral Infections (Hepatitis B & C)
- Hepatitis B virus and Hepatitis C virus are two most significant etiologic agents of chronic liver disease in the world.
- It causes chronic inflammation of the liver, hence fibrosis and cirrhosis.
- World Health Organization (WHO) reports that 350 million plus people worldwide are chronic carriers of hepatitis B and C.
Know more: Hepatitis Diet plan and Types of Hepatitis A, B food to avoid
Liver cancer is 25% likely if not treated in the patient suffering from hepatitis.
2. Alcoholic Liver Disease
- Alcohol causes death of liver cells, thus alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
- Additionally, Long-term drinking for over 10 years is among the top-selling liver failure reasons.
- A 2021 article released in The Journal of Hepatology attested that alcoholic liver disease holds 50% of all liver diseases across the entire world in general.
- 3. Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD)
- Estimation of a 2022 Lancent Gastroenterology & Hepatology report has a target on NAFLD to around 25% of the world’s populations.
- 20% of NAFLD, not treated, advance to cirrhosis, which makes you prone to liver failure.
4. Autoimmune Liver Diseases
The body’s immune system identifies the healthy liver cells as abnormal and they kill them, and this leads to autoimmune hepatitis, primary biliary cholangitis (PBC), and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). Additionally, They get inflamed and in this, tissues undergo fibrosis. Autoimmune liver disease, in a Journal of Autoimmunity of 2020, was more prevalent in women compared to men.
5. Genetic Disorders
There are certain genetic disorders that cause liver damage because of toxic substances deposited in the liver and liver damage. They include:
- Wilson’s Disease (liver excess copper)
- Hemochromatosis
- Liver iron overload
- Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency
- Breakdown of protein plaque in liver tissue.
Researchers estimated that 5-10% of chronic liver disease globally in 2019 were due to copper accumulation in the liver as a result of genetic liver disease. In The American Journal of Medical Genetics.
6. Drug-Induced Liver Injury
Abuse of analgesic, antibiotic, corticosteroid, and anticonvulsants causes hepatotoxicity. Acute drug-induced liver injury constitutes 13% of all U.S. cases, according to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine 2019.
Symptoms of Chronic Liver Parenchymal Disease
No symptoms initially but once the disease has established itself when the symptoms arise later are:
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- Weak and tired: Since the liver stores energy less effectively.
- Jaundice (yellow skin and eyes): Due to the accumulation of excess blood bilirubin.
- Abdominal bloating and tenderness: From fluid buildup (ascites).
- Nausea and loss of appetite: The food cannot be processed by the liver.
- Bruising and bleeding easily: The liver is unable to make proteins that aid in clotting blood.
- Forgetfulness and confusion: Suggests acute liver failure (hepatic encephalopathy).
A 2021 article in The Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology states that 70% of cirrhosis patients are also cognitively impaired.
Is Liver Parenchymal Disease curable?
Cure is possible based on the course of the disease:
- Liver (initial disease with mild fibrosis) is managed by diet, body exercise, and good medication.
- Liver (established disease with cirrhosis) cannot be cured but the advancement of the disease is postponed by treatment.
- End-stage liver disease is an indicator for liver transplantation, five-year survival 75% (American Liver Foundation).
Management of Liver Parenchymal Disease
1. Lifestyle Modification
- Cessation of cigarette smoking and alcohol to lower the liver’s burden.
- Introduction of greens, protein, and whole-cereal breakfast.
- Daily physical exercise for prevention of fatty liver and obesity.
2. Drug Management
- Drugs used in the management of hepatitis B & C infection.
- Immunosuppression in autoimmune liver disease.
- Diuretics in cirrhotic patients with fluid overload.
3. Liver Transplant
Liver transplant is still only the treatment of liver disease at the end stage. Figures of articles published in The Journal of Transplantation (2022) indicated five-year survival following liver transplant patient is 75%. Prevention of Chronic Liver Disease Immunization against hepatitis B. Optimum amount of alcohol to prevent liver damage. Healthy diet, healthy weight. Additionally, No self-medication, not more than two analgesics simultaneously. Annual screening for the liver if at risk.
Conclusion
Lastly, Chronic liver parenchymal disease is a preventable potentially life-threatening condition. With early diagnosis, prevention or even reversal of liver damage can be possible in some patients by modifying one’s lifestyle and proper medical management. With established disease, nothing could be done. Moreover, Optimal management of your liver by diet, avoidance of alcohol, follow-up, and medical therapy could decrease the occurrence of liver failure, and quality of life.
