Liver Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension

Liver cirrhosis is the advanced level of a long standing and progressive liver disease (Chronic Liver Disease) characterized by diffuse scarring and varying degrees of fibrosis (hardening) in liver. Early detection of liver cirrhosis and proper treatment can sometimes slow down the progression and liver cirrhosis and sometimes even reverse it as well. But it depends on the cause of liver cirrhosis and stage of liver cirrhosis (or degree of fibrosis). For example, if a patient is detected to have hepatitis B and if he is timely started on antiviral treatment, his liver disease progression can be remarkably slowed down and sometimes even reversed. However, in cases of congenital and hereditary liver diseases this may not be possible and liver disease progression is inevitable but with medical treatment this progression can indeed be definitely slowed down.

Unfortunately, such incidences are rare occurrences and in majority of situations liver disease either gets unnoticed during early stages or progresses to liver cirrhosis even with treatment. As liver cirrhosis progresses it, it causes progressive hardening of liver substance thereby increasing resistance to the flow of blood through its substance. This increased resistance leads to increase in the pressures of portal vein (the vein traversing blood through the liver), that leads to a condition called as Portal Hypertension. Majority of problems that patients feels and manifests in advanced level of liver cirrhosis are actually the consequences of Portal Hypertension.