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[Keepinfaith85]

What does "in most cases" mean when speaking of cirrhosis being irreversable? What represents the rarity?

[flyinlynn]

Here is a link to the complete article
http://medind.nic.in/icb/t07/i4/icbt07i4p393.pdf

[HectorSF]

Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics Review Article: The Reversibility of Cirrhosis

A. A. Sohrabpour; M. Mohamadnejad; R. Malekzadeh
Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2012;36(9):824-832.

Abstract and Introduction
Abstract

Background Cirrhosis is the end result of many types of chronic liver diseases. Recent developments in the understanding of the process of hepatic fibrogenesis have revealed that the process is a dynamic one and a capacity for recovery from any degree of fibrosis including those associated with cirrhosis is plausible.
Aim To review current evidence of histopathological reversibility following drug therapy of more common aetiologies of cirrhosis.

Methods
A PubMed search was performed and the evidence for histopathological regression of advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis following drug therapy was reviewed as of the end of February 2012.

Results
There is abundant clinical evidence in support of the idea of the reversibility of cirrhosis in patients with different aetiologies of advanced hepatic disease including viral, autoimmune and metabolic/infiltrative liver disease.

Conclusions The concept of cirrhosis has changed from being a form of static and irreversible entity to a dynamic and reversible diseases stage. Novel therapeutic strategies are under investigation to target specific steps in the process of fibrogenesis with the aim of reversing advanced fibrosis/cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis, also know as "stage 4 liver disease", can be classified into sub-stages. The chance for reversibility of cirrhosis declines as the liver goes through more advanced substages of cirrhosis.

"Compensated cirrhosis"
May have no complications or symptoms at all. Blood tests may be normal, but there is usually a low platelet count (12 mmHg portal hypertension.

If you have cirrhosis see a hepatologist who is a liver specialist to learn more about managing your liver disease before it becomes irreversible.

Hector

[flyinlynn]

The reversibility of Cirrhosis is a subject studied by medical scholars and experts in the field of Hepatology. Here is a quote from and article in US National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health web site as an example.

Author: Department of Gastroenterology, G.B.Pant Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Abstract:
Extensive and persistent hepatic fibrosis has for a long time been considered irreversible. Accumulating evidence suggests that liver fibrosis is reversible and that recovery from cirrhosis may be possible. The application of molecular techniques to models of reversible fibrosis are helping to establish the events and processes that are critical to recovery. The problem consists in identifying and eliminating its cause. Although fibrosis in the liver has little functional significance by itself, its severity derives from associated vascular changes. Disappearance of fibrosis can be accompanied by remodeling of vascular changes. However, depending on its duration, the fibrosis may be irreversible.