Cirrhosis is a disease accompanied by the replacement of healthy liver cells (hepatocytes) with a fibrous tissue that is unable to perform their functions. A fairly common form of the disease is biliary cirrhosis, manifested in two forms - primary and secondary. They are characterized by similar signs, but different causes of occurrence.
Primary biliary cirrhosis of the liver
The disease is of an autoimmune nature and begins with chronic inflammation of the biliary tract (cholangitis), due to which cholestasis develops over time, that is, bile completely or partially ceases to enter the duodenum. This disorder ultimately leads to the primary biliary cirrhosis, the symptoms of which are as follows:
- skin itching, especially bothersome at night, which can last several years;
- severe physical weakness;
- pain in the right hypochondrium;
- darkening of the skin on the shoulder blades, flexing of the joints, with the development of the disease, the skin becomes dark brown throughout the body;
- enlarged spleen;
- muscle pain;
- bitter taste in the mouth;
- poor appetite;
- subfebrile body temperature.
Many patients until the last stages of the disease do not bother. Skin itching can be a reason for a visit to a dermatologist.
At late stages of cirrhosis, hydrocephalus ( ascites ) develops.
Among patients with biliary liver cirrhosis, mostly women are found, but men suffer less often.
In the development of lesion of liver cells an important role is played by hereditary predisposition.
Secondary biliary cirrhosis
This form develops due to a prolonged obstruction (obstruction) of the common bile duct, which is also called a cholechae. The causes of the disorder include cholelithiasis and related surgical operations, as well as chronic pancreatitis and neoplasms.
The symptomatology of secondary biliary cirrhosis is as follows:
- itching;
- yellowing of the sclera and skin (develops early and intensively);
- change in color of feces (their discoloration);
- change in color of urine to dark brown;
- pain in the right hypochondrium;
- enlargement of the spleen .
Often, these signs are supplemented by the joined infectious cholangitis, which is accompanied by an increase in body temperature to febrile figures, chills, sweating.
At later stages, the so-called. portal hypertension, which is an increase in pressure in the portal vein, as well as another characteristic sign of cirrhosis - hepatic-cell insufficiency.
Secondary biliary cirrhosis of the liver most often affects men aged 30-50 years.