cirrhosis

[Guest guest]

i just wanted to comment on the statistical incidence of primary

biliary cirrhosis. it occurs in about 40 in every 100,000 people and

it is considered (like type I diabetes) to be an autoimmune

disease. it is more prevalent in women (75 to 90% more prevalent)

than in men and usually is first seen between a person's 40's and 60's.

MOST cirrhosis in the US comes about secondary to hepatitis C (some

patients with hep C have been living with cirrhosis for over 40

years); ; the next most prevalent predisposing factor is alcohol use

(extensive alcohol use) . however, those are SECONDARY, not primary

causes, and their incidence is more common than that for primary

biliary cirrhosis. secondary cirrhosis causes about 1.2% of all US

deaths annually.

there is a liver syndrome, NASH or NAFLD, nonalcoholic

steatohepatitis or nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which is most

prevalent in these 3 populations: the obese, diabetics, and those

with hyperlipidemia. i see plently of thin people who don't drink

with fatty livers. however, in many if not most cases- - - my own

included- - - people live with this (which can progress to cirrhosis)

for years, and it often never progresses. i've lived with it for

over 30 years and have no symptoms other than occasionally elevated

liver function tests---and those haven't been elevated for over 10

years, probably due to better nutrition on my part.

as a diagnostic medical sonographer, i scan the liver frequently

looking for cirrhotic changes. in cirrhosis, the liver creates and

regenerates nodules, so we examine the liver capsule- - -the outer

surfaces of the liver- - - to see if it is smooth or bumpy (bumpy

would indicate the nodular appearance.). Nodules and fibrosis (a

kind of scarring) occur late in the disease process of both primary

biliary cirrhosis and hepatic cirrhosis.

here is an article on cirrhosis (both types).

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/articles/10421-1.asp

hope this helps,

kcd