Biopsy results

[biopsy report]

MY husband has a liver biopsy as he has had the following symptoms for over a year. Drank a 12 pack a day for 15 years.
His symptoms are Severe loss of weight, his stomach bloats, his feet bloat, severe dry mouth,his personnel parts have shrunk, and no will to do anything anymore, also he is never hungry, always hot and sweats all the time. What does these biopsy results mean, are his symptoms a sign his liver is damage to a point of no return. What should he expect with these results.

                   results reads.
1) portal inflammation- Occasional portal areas show inflammation consisting of lymphocytes and rare ecosinophils.

2) Lobular inflammation- rare focus of chronic inflammation lobular inflammation seen.

3) piecemeal necrosis- absent

4) bridging necrosis- absent

5) fibrosis- mild portal and sinusoidal fibrosis seen by trichrome stain.

6) stainable iron- present in hepatocytes, predominat pattern with focal stainable iron within the  kupffer cells.

7) fatty change- macro and microvesicular steatosis involving less than 33 percent of the lobules.

8) alcholic hyaline- absent

Is this cirrhosis, he does not drink anymore, he drinks coffee and soda all the time now, does coffee and soda also hurt the liver? How much longer will his liver work for him with these results.

[Kevin Pho, MD]

There does not seem to be any clear cirrhosis - however the presence of fibrosis is a precursor to further liver damage.  Inflammation is indicative of hepatitis.  

Abstinence of alcohol - as you are doing - is recommended.  I would also check his bloodwork for hepatitis, as well as serially monitor his liver enzymes.

These options can be discussed with his physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_

[biopsy report]

Can anyone add to this question. Does this mean liver disease is present and will get worse with time.

[Kalio1]

Has your husband been tested for hepatitis b and c? Has he seen a Heptologist( liver specialist)? Heptologists deal specifically with liver related problems. I'd ask whoever did this biopsy to please explain the results in detail. Abstaining from alcohol is a must. Our livers can heal themselves as long as the damage hasn't gone "too far" and alcohol is VERY hard on the liver, especially a damaged liver. Keep in mind liver damage CAN heal with proper care and attention as long as the damage isn't too far gone. Im no doctor, but from the results you posted here it looks like his damage is NOT too far gone to heal. He needs to maintain healthy lifestyle practices in order for his liver to improve, that is of utmost importance.
He does sound like he is having quite a few symtoms that can be related to liver damage but only your doctor can determine this. If you can't get satisfactory answers or directions of how to proceed from here, get another opinion or another doctor, his biopsy is showing some portal imflammation and some fibrosis, you need more info.and he needs to address this now.

Eating a liver friendly diet and drinking lots of water would be good for him, staying away from alcohol and any medications that are not liver friendly is a good plan too.

Good luck with it, I hope you get some answers soon.

[biopsy report]

He has talked the his liver doctor about his symptoms and results. His doctor does not say all his symptoms are liver related. Doctor acts like the biopsy is normal. His symptoms get worse daily, he has lost all sorts of weight and basically has no fat left on his body except his stomach area. I have done reseach on the biopsy and that is not a healthy liver. Doctor will not come out and say the liver is damaged, just confused as he describes his symptoms as unbearable at times.

[revenire____]

I'd grade that biopsy as a stage 1-0, not very bad at all.

There are 4 stages to fibrosis and the 4th is cirrhosis.