Is Acute Cirrhosis of the Liver Curable?
Acute Cirrhosis: Management and Treatment Overview
Typically, patients with acute cirrhosis do not achieve clinical cure due to the irreversible nature of the disease. There is no specific medication available that can reverse the process of liver fibrosis clinically. Acute cirrhosis refers to the rapid onset of extensive hepatocyte necrosis, inflammatory response, and fibrous tissue proliferation, often triggered by viral hepatitis, such as hepatitis B virus infection. Given the abundant fibrous tissue in the liver and its limited regenerative capacity, even aggressive treatment cannot fully restore the liver to its normal state.
However, with standardized and effective antiviral therapy, the disease progression can be controlled, symptoms alleviated, and quality of life improved. Comprehensive management for acute cirrhosis patients encompasses two main aspects: general management and symptomatic supportive treatment:
1. General Management: Patients should rest in bed, restrict water and sodium intake, and avoid medications that may harm the liver.
2. Symptomatic Supportive Treatment: Includes the use of liver-protecting medications, such as compound glycyrrhizin tablets and reduced glutathione for injection. When necessary, diuretics like furosemide tablets or torasemide capsules can be prescribed to promote fluid excretion and alleviate ascites.
In cases of upper gastrointestinal bleeding, patients should follow medical advice to take anti-acid medications like omeprazole enteric-coated capsules or rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets for hemostasis.
Although there is no definitive cure for acute cirrhosis, timely adoption of these targeted treatment strategies can help improve prognosis and extend survival.