Liver Cirrhosis Stages
In this article you will learn about what are the 4 stages of cirrhosis of the liver, compensated vs. decompensated cirrhosis, signs of liver failure, the difference between acute and chronic liver failure, life expectancy, causes, treatment and more. Your liver is an important organ that works to eliminate toxins from your body. When you have liver problems, toxins can build up in your body, causing damage to your organs and tissues. Fortunately, your gastroenterologist is an expert at diagnosing and treating liver cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis of the liver is a disorder in which healthy liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue. It is a progressive illness that might take several years to develop.
Also Read: How to Detox your Liver
What are the 4 Stages of Cirrhosis of the Liver?
Cirrhosis is classified into four stages that include:
Stage 1. Steatosis (Inflammation)
The first stage of liver disease is characterized by inflammation of the bile duct or liver. As the body strives to fight against the disease or infection, abdominal discomfort is frequently the first symptom of inflammation.
If this inflammation is not managed, it might cause damage to the liver, exacerbating the illness. Symptoms and inflammation are generally curable during stage 1 and can prevent liver disease from escalating to stage 2.
Stage 1 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy: Stage 2 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy: Around 35 out of 100 people (around 35%) with stage 2 liver cancer will survive their cancer for 4 years or more after they’re diagnosed. More than 10 out of 100 people (more than 10%) with stage 3 liver cancer will survive their cancer for 4 years or more after they’re diagnosed.
SUMMARY: Inflammation of the liver, caused by the immune system reacting to a foreign substance, like toxins. Chronic inflammation can lead to an enlarged liver. Inflammation can result from fatty liver, hepatitis, and other causes.
Stage 2. Liver Scarring (fibrosis of the liver)
Liver fibrosis (Scarring) of the liver due to inflammation: Many people with liver illness don’t realize they have it until they are at stage 2 or 3 because the first symptoms generally go unreported.
In stage 2, scarring or inflammation (damage) begins to obstruct the natural flow of blood in the liver. This causes the liver to be unable to function properly, but with treatment, the liver may still be capable of recovering, avoiding more damage, and slowing the progression of the liver disease.
Stage 2 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy: Around 35 out of 100 people (around 35%) with stage 2 liver cancer will survive their cancer for 4 years or more after they’re diagnosed. More than 10 out of 100 people (more than 10%) with stage 3 liver cancer will survive their cancer for 4 years or more after they’re diagnosed.
SUMMARY: Liver fibrosis or liver scarring, caused by chronic inflammation. Scarred tissue begins to replace healthy tissue, which reduces how well your liver functions. Liver scar tissue also reduces blood flow to your liver.
Stage 3. Cirrhosis of the liver
Cirrhosis develops due to the advancement of liver disease, mainly due to lack of therapy, in which scar tissue replaces good tissue in the liver. This process occurs when healthy liver cells have been destroyed over time (often several years) by a progressive illness or infection.
This causes permanent scarring of the liver, causing it to become hard and lumpy. The liver will eventually be unable to function because the growing scar tissue will make blood flow through the portal vein and into the liver impossible. When this blood is prevented from accessing the portal vein, it can flow into the spleen, causing additional problems.
Stage 3 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy: Cirrhosis has become irreversible. Diagnosed at stage 3, the 1-year survival rate is 80%. It’s during stage 3 that a liver transplant may be recommended. There’s always a risk a person’s body will reject the transplant, but if accepted, 80% of transplant patients survive more than 5 years past their operation.
SUMMARY: Cirrhosis of your liver, caused by severe liver scarring. At the cirrhosis stage, you may experience more symptoms of liver damage including jaundice, weakness, fatigue, appetite and weight loss, abdominal bloating, and edema in your extremities.
Stage 4. Liver failure
Liver failure or advanced liver disease or hepatic failure: Failure of the liver during the disease’s ultimate stage will signify the end of the liver’s functioning. This will necessitate quick medical intervention to avoid fatalities.
Stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy: The structure of the scar tissue has created a risk of rupture within the liver. That can cause internal bleeding and become immediately life-threatening. With respect to stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver life expectancy, roughly 43% of patients survive past 1 year.
SUMMARY: Liver failure, which means your liver can no longer function or heal itself. In liver failure, the liver can no longer process toxins or drugs, and they build up in your body. Symptoms grow worse and can include mental and physical impairment, appetite and weight loss, diarrhea, and other problems.
Compensated vs. Decompensated Cirrhosis
Compensated cirrhosis
- This phase is asymptomatic because the healthy liver cells are still capable of meeting the body’s needs and compensating for the scarred tissue and damaged cells.
- Treatment is necessary at this stage to prevent the illness from escalating to liver failure because the body will be unable to efficiently rid itself of toxins.
Decompensated cirrhosis
This type of cirrhosis causes various symptoms and can lead to various problems, including:
Bleeding of varices:
Varices are dilated blood vessels in the stomach or esophagus caused by obstruction of the portal vein to the liver. It is a medical emergency and needs immediate treatment due to the risk of blood loss.
Hepatic encephalopathy:
It is a loss of brain function caused by the liver’s inability to eliminate poisons from the person’s blood. Confusion and forgetfulness are common symptoms.
Ascites:
The condition refers to the accumulation of fluids, mainly the protein-containing fluid known as ascites, in the peritoneum (abdominal cavity).
Jaundice:
This disorder is characterized by yellowing of the eyes and skin due to a high amount of yellow pigment bilirubin in the body. The liver is responsible for producing and processing this bile pigment; if the liver and bile ducts are not functioning properly due to scarring and injury, this pigment accumulates.
Gallstones:
Cirrhosis can cause an increase in the bilirubin chemical, which can contribute to the production of gallstones.
What are the Signs of Liver Failure?
The following are some of the signs of liver failure:
- Altered consciousness
- Bleeding through the rectum or vomiting blood
- Severe abdominal distension
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Fatigue
- Jaundice
- Weakness
- Itching
- Loss of appetite
- Bruising easily due to the injured liver’s decreased production of blood clotting components
Cirrhosis can proceed to liver failure over several years; nevertheless, the damage done at this stage is irreversible and fatal. The goal is to diagnose and treat liver illness as early as possible to enhance the prognosis and prevent liver failure.
What is the Difference between Acute and Chronic Liver Failure?
Acute liver failure is sudden onset, whereas chronic liver failure is gradual onset.
Acute liver failure is loss of liver function that occurs quickly — in days or weeks — usually in a person who has no preexisting liver disease. It’s most commonly caused by a hepatitis virus or drugs, such as acetaminophen. Acute liver failure is less common than chronic liver failure, which develops more slowly.
Other differences may include:
Acute (sudden) liver failure:
This type of uncommon liver failure proceeds quickly and occurs within a few days or weeks. Acute liver failure usually affects people who do not already have liver disease. The illness frequently manifests itself suddenly, with no signs or warning. The most common causes are drug overdoses from taking too much Tylenol (acetaminophen), poisoning, or severe hepatitis A infection.
Chronic (gradual) liver failure:
Chronic liver failure is a slower type of liver failure that can occur over months or years (typically six months or more) before any symptoms appear. Cirrhosis, a serious liver disease, is usually the cause of this disorder.
How will I Know if I Have Liver Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis symptoms vary depending on the stage of the disease. In the early stages of cirrhosis, some people experience no symptoms. Symptoms may not develop until the liver has been severely damaged.
Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver, may include:
- Fatigue or weakness
- Nausea and vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Unintentional weight loss
- Right upper quadrant abdominal pain or tenderness
- Increased bruising and/or bleeding from any orifices in the body
- Jaundice
- Urticaria (severe skin itching)
- Peripheral edema (swelling in the ankles, legs, and feet)
- Bloating from a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, known as ascites
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Darkening of urine color (from excretion of certain liver-made proteins)
If you experience any of the following symptoms or are concerned that you may have liver cirrhosis, see a doctor as soon as possible—the sooner it is detected and treated, the less likely it is to worsen.
If you have any of the below symptoms, go to a hospital or visit a doctor right away:
- Blood-tinged sputum or blood in vomit
- Symptoms of fever or chills
- Swelling that’s red or feels hot to the touch
- Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
- Feel dizzy or fainting-like episodes
- Black or tar-colored stools
You may have tests to confirm the diagnosis, such as: blood tests. scans, such as an ultrasound, CT, MRI, or transient elastography scan. a liver biopsy, where a fine needle is used to remove a sample of liver cells so they can be examined under a microscope.
What Causes Cirrhosis of the Liver?
The majority of cases of liver cirrhosis are caused by:
- Excessive alcohol consumption
- Chronic viral hepatitis (both hepatitis B and C viruses induce liver cirrhosis)
Other causes include:
- Type II diabetes
- Obesity
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Rare causes include:
- Autoimmune chronic active hepatitis: It is a condition that results from the body’s immune system attacking and destroying liver cells
- Drugs and chemicals: Several drugs, herbs, and chemicals can lead to liver cirrhosis.
- Inherited metabolic disorders: Several rare disorders, most of which are caused by a missing enzyme, can produce a metabolic imbalance in the liver, leading to hepatic cirrhosis. The most frequent is hemochromatosis, which produces excessive iron deposits in the liver, and Wilson’s disease, which causes excessive copper accumulation.
Other Liver Cirrhosis Treatment
What are the Treatment Options for Liver Cirrhosis? If possible, treatment focuses on curing the underlying cause of cirrhosis to prevent further damage.
A doctor may prescribe the following:
- Antiviral medicines can be used to treat viral hepatitis infections.
- Steroid medicines if the cause is an autoimmune disease.
Changes to your lifestyle and diet to control your symptoms and lower your risk of problems, such as:
- Drinking less alcohol (or not at all)
- Losing weight if you’re overweight or obese
- Smoking cessation
- Doing regular exercise
- Eating a healthy, balanced diet
- Cutting down on salt in your diet to help with fluid buildup
- Practicing good hygiene to make sure you don’t get any infections
- Getting vaccinations
If your liver is severely damaged, doctors may offer a liver transplant, but this is only done in rare situations and only after all other treatment options have failed. A liver transplant is a surgical procedure that includes replacing your diseased liver with a healthy liver from someone else.
Cirrhosis of the liver caused by years of alcohol abuse or being overweight can be avoided by making changes in the early stages of the disease. However, it is difficult to prevent liver cirrhosis caused by a genetic ailment or an issue with your immune system. Once your liver is severely damaged and scarred, there is no way to repair the damage.
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary biliary cholangitis, previously called primary biliary cirrhosis, is a chronic disease in which the bile ducts in your liver are slowly destroyed. Bile is a fluid made in your liver. It aids with digestion and helps you absorb certain vitamins.
Biliary cirrhosis is a rare form of liver cirrhosis caused by disease or defects of the bile ducts. Symptoms usually include cholestasis (accumulation of bile in the liver).
NASH Cirrhosis
NASH is the form of NAFLD in which you have inflammation of the liver and liver damage, in addition to fat in your liver. The inflammation and liver damage of NASH can cause fibrosis, or scarring, of the liver. NASH may lead to cirrhosis, in which the liver is scarred and permanently damaged.
Can Cirrhosis be Reversed?
The damage done by cirrhosis typically cannot be reversed. But if caught early enough and depending on the cause, there is a chance of slowing it with treatment. And even in the most severe cases, liver transplants and new treatments provide those suffering from cirrhosis with hope.
Cirrhosis of the Liver Life Expectancy
Patients with compensated cirrhosis have a median survival that may extend beyond 12 years. Patients with decompensated cirrhosis have a worse prognosis than do those with compensated cirrhosis; the average survival without transplantation is approximately two years.
How I Cured My Liver Cirrhosis
Although there is no cure for cirrhosis, treatments can delay or stop its progress and reduce complications. Treatments for the causes of cirrhosis are as follows: Alcohol-related liver disease: If you’ve developed cirrhosis from alcohol use, talk with your provider about how to stop drinking alcohol.
Bottom Line
Early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis is the key to early treatment, which can mean a better outcome for you. Liver disease in the early stages is treatable because your liver has a great ability to heal itself. As liver disease progresses, the liver’s natural healing abilities decrease.
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