CIRRHOSIS OF LIVER with OESOPHAGEAL

[Nikul Patel]

One of my uncle at INDIA is recently suffering from cirrhosis of liver with oesophageal and gastric varices. As per the information passed on by the doctors, his veins coming out of liver are swallen and this might prove to be fatal. My question is that DO WE (IN US) have any solution to this type of disease. Or the only soltution is LIVER TRANSPLANT. If that is the only soltuion, please let me know how can I proceed to gather the necessary information on that. Your kind support in this matter will help us come out of this family emergency. I am a Computer Engineer doesn't understand any of this medical jargons. But please let me know what can be done in this direction. My uncle is already admitted to a hospital where he is taken care of by a team of five doctors. But the doctors say that is this is something new that they are coming across and they don't have any solution to this kind of medical disease.

Please send me an email regarding this at the earliest. Your prompt rely in the matter will be higly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

[HFHSm.D.-Gastro-rf]

Dear Nikul,
Cirrhosis is a term that means scarring of th eliver.  There are many possible causes for the scarring that include chronic infections wiith a hepatitis virus, other infections that can damage the liver, alcohol use, industrial exposures to chemicals that damage the liver and metabolic abnormalities.

One of the consequences of the liver scarring is a diversion of blood away from the liver.  As a result of this change in blood flow, vessels of the stomach and esophagus that usually carry a relatively small amount of blood are now engorged by the additional blood from the liver.  These vessels, termed varices, can bleed causing catastrophic results including death.

To treat the varices a doctor can either inject chemicals into the vein or place elastic bands around the vein.  The end result of these manipulations is to thronbose (create a clot) in th evessels so that blood flow is obstructed and the risk of bleeding reduced.

With regard to the cirrhosis, there is no way that we can currently reverse liver scarring.  Replacing the liver with a transplanted organ is the only option.

Each transplant program has its own style for evaluation of patients for liver transplantation.  I suggest that you contact a liver transplant program close to your home and discuss the situation with them.

[wendell]

Nikul, I have an excellent book about healing with nutrition. There are some very good natural supplements your uncle could take for the liver.

If you'd like to e-mail me, I can pass along some hrebal recommendations from this book.

Regards,

Wendell     < ***@**** >

[Linda in Chicago]

My husband was recently hospitalized with this problem. He was bleeding from the gastric varices and almost died.  Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago has an excellent liver disease program. They were able to implant a TIPS shunt which redirected the bloodflow and reduced the pressure.  Ultimately, he will probably need a transplant but the procedure stopped the bleeding and saved his life. (It may be years before he needs to have a transplant).  Northwestern Memorial Hospital is one of the "Centers of Excellence" for liver disease in this country.  They also do a procedure you should be aware of.  It is an Adult Lobe Transplant.  Basically, if you or a member of your family has the same blood type as your uncle, you can donate a portion of your liver to your uncle.  Your own liver and his will grow back.
I have cut and pasted information from Northwestern Memorial Hospital's website below.  (The section dealing with their liver program.)  Good luck to you and your family.  

-------SECTION FROM THEIR WEB PAGE----------------------------
Division Chief:

    
Peter J. Kahrilas, MD
  

  
Consultation or Referral: Contact us by calling our Physician Referral Service at [phone], or click here to send e-mail.
  
        
The Northwestern Memorial Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology includes a diverse medical staff with expertise in diagnosing and treating the full range of GI and liver diseases, including cancers of the digestive system, Crohn's disease, inflammatory bowel disease, ulcerative colitis, viral hepatitis, peptic ulcer disease, esophageal and chronic liver diseases, gallstones and their complications, and pancreatic diseases. Section members are active in research into hepatobiliary disease, GI motility and manometry, absorption-nutrition, gastrointestinal immunology, gastrointestinal cancer, and interventional endoscopy. Together with its extensive organ transplantation programs, Northwestern Memorial's Gastroenterology/Hepatology program provides state-of-the-art patient care.
  

[Nikul Patel]

Thanks Linda for keeping us updated about the possible soltuions for the disease. Just to keep the readers (of the forum) updated, I would like to add up one thing and that is as follows:

The latest test reports of the patients has revealed that the person is suffering from an infection caused due to HEPATITIS C+. This is the major cause of the damange to the lever. Reader who might read this are requested to send me the information about any medicine or surgery that might help us cure this HEPATITIS c+.

A BIG THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO WOULD BE TRYING THEIR BEST FOR US..

[dave]

dear nikul
there has been studies on hepatocyte growth factor in Japan.
the tests were on rats that showed complete reversal of cirrhosis. this was a year ago aand i guess they have done tests on humans--dont know with what results.i have been trying to post here to find out but it is always full. if you find out anything please let me know. goodluck

[ask about hepatocyte growth factor--plea]

what is it and does it work

[alice]

My mom is suffering from some disease that is scaring her liver.  Her doctors are not sure what the disease is called, but whatever it is that is attacking her liver has attacked everything but 3/4ths of her liver.  On top of her having only 3/4ths of her liver left she has been breaking out in a rash all over her body (sometimes the rash itches).  She also has cramps in her legs and hands and has lost almost all the vision in one of her eyes.  If anyone knows why these things are happening to my mom, or has had any of these symtoms please comment back.  I am searching for answers and nobody seems to know.  Please Help.  Thanks her loving daughter Alice.

[wendy erickson]

my husband has been taken blood test and the dr said he has a inflamed liver.  he also has high blood pressure and thyroid is very low.  he coughs at night so hard that he cant breath. is another of many symtons he is experiencing. he is only 39years old .  is this all acholhol related what other symtons can occur  from inflamed liver?

[KIM STEAD - NZ]

My mother, age 60yrs suffers from Primary Biliary Cirrhosis and has done so for many years.  She has been told by her specialist that her liver cells are slowly dying and that there is basically nothing that can be done for her short of a liver transplant in which case she is probably too old.  She tries to keep active but gets very tired and gets many tummy upsets and realated problems of which you probably don't want to hear about in detail.  She also suffers from a terrible itch and rash.  She scratches so bad (without even realising now) until she bleeds.  All the continious scratching has caused pimple like things on her skin which easily bleed when scratched.  She has found nothing to relieve this itch and does not know where to even start looking.  Does anyone out there suffer from this condition, have any suggestions or solutions or just want to talk about it?  I am new to the net so do not yet know how to get about very well.  My address is ***@****.  I desperately want to help my mother and give her something back for all the years she has devoted to my brothers and myself.  All she wants in the world is to feel better.  Someone please help us.  Kim.

[Cilla D.]

How long can a person live with cirrhosis of the liver?  Is there a possibility that they could live years or decades?  My friend has been diagnosed and is eight different medications to treat this.  Thank you

[Kristi]

Alice, of Thursday Jan 6, 2000 I would like to discuss your mother's liver disease.

[Jim]

my brother in law was recently diagnosed with a liver disease caused by excessive drinking. He has been getting treatment fro this, but now has a significant weight loss, the inside of his mouth is very bright red, itchy skin and a rash. the red mouth syndrome hasn't been diagnosed at this point, and i'm wondering if there is anyone out there that can offer some information on this.

[Kathryn Birney]

Over past 3 months, I have had an unexplained weight gain, fatigue, itching all over and red splotches on my face.  I have reason to believe these symptoms may be due to a malfunction with my liver, since in the past I have taken medication that could possibly do damage.  I just need to know if any of the above symptoms are indicative of a liver problem.  Thank you.

[Jim L]

HELP...I cant seem to ever post a freaking question here and I have been trying every day for a MONTH!!!.  I am a 23 alcoholic
who stoped drinking 5 months ago due to a pulsing pain in the lower/middle right side of my body. At first it did radiate to the left side and to my back. I have had blood tests and even an ultrasound and they turn out normal. My physician thinks its Fatty Liver but im not convinced. I have been abstanant from booze for 5 months and still suffer the pain. I recently took some Roxicet pills and had a complete relapse, the pain was terrible  and I belive it could be related to the pill. Im sick of suffering and would like some positive diagnosis. I need to feel like my absitinance from alcohol is worthwhlile and the pain has only caused me depression and frustration.  HELP

[Linda]

The Japanese study was reported in Jan 1999 by one of the network TV news shows.  I am looking for it now....
The study was performed on rats.  The success rate was 100% regeneration of healthy liver cells that replaced the cirrhosis.  This was done by injecting Human Growth Gene incased in fat, into the muscle of the rats.
The Japanese were proposing dogs as the next test group.
My Doctor tells me that there are several things to consider here.
1. The rats had cirrhosis that was created in the lab.  None of us ( that I know of have lab invented cirrhosis)
2. testing takes years... He says to count on 20 years before it reaches human patients in America.
3. Even if all goes well with the tests it may not affect all types of cirrhosis.

Personally, I am saving up for a trip to Japan and a dog suit:-)
Linda    http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/livercirrhosissupport?as

[Sharon]

I have minimal scarring of the liver due to chronic b and c hepatitis.  the hepatitis b is no longer active, however the c is chronic active.  A biospy was done and that is how we found out about the scarring.  The doctor said he would prefer not to treat
he thinks the treatment is too severe.  He recommended coming back in a year for followup tests.

[Shona Stewart]

I have recently been diagnosed w/ Hep-C
My mother in law has recently in the last two years undergone the year of injections and ribavirin capsules and in December 2000 will be clear for the virus for a year. She has already passed the 6 mo. mark plus. However she now has many problems
and is being told by all the other specialists that the interferon has caused all of this? It is a horrific thing as I am only 38 and do not want to have the samr experience? She was treated aggressively as her liver was already damaged.
Do you have any statistics on aftermath of interferon  in a large group of people? A specific study rather than
numbers and guessing alone? I really need some specifics
as I do not know the stats on my liver as of yet and am very reluctant in hammering these frying shots into my body??????

[Gale Chambliss]

My mom is suffering with cirrhosis scarring of the liver.  Her doctor has requested a ultra sound.  He stated their maybe some leaking of the liver that causing the air in her stomach.  He is by the way a Gastroentherology/Hepatology Specialists.  My mother is in a end stage of Multiple Sclesorsis and it has been a long battle.  (about 23 years)  Since October 1999 we have been at the endstage of the this disease.  What can you tell me