Cirrhosis of the Liver 肝硬化
The liver, the largest organ in the body, is essential in keeping the body functioning properly.肝，最大的器官在人体内，是必不可少的维持人体正常运作。 It removes or neutralizes poisons from the blood, produces immune agents to control infection, and removes germs and bacteria from the blood.它可以消除或中和毒药的血液，产生免疫制剂来控制感染，并消除细菌和细菌从血液。 It makes proteins that regulate blood clotting and produces bile to help absorb fats and fat-soluble vitamins.它使蛋白质，调节血液凝固并产生胆汁来帮助消化脂肪和脂溶性维生素。 You cannot live without a functioning liver.你不能生活在一个正常运作的肝脏。
In cirrhosis of the liver, scar tissue replaces normal, healthy tissue, blocking the flow of blood through the organ and preventing it from working as it should.在肝硬化，疤痕组织取代了正常，健康的组织，阻碍血液流动，通过器官和阻止它的工作，因为它应该这样做。 Cirrhosis is the twelfth leading cause of death by disease, killing about 26,000 people each year.肝硬化是第十二届导致死亡的疾病，造成约26000人，每年。 Also, the cost of cirrhosis in terms of human suffering, hospital costs, and lost productivity is high.另外，肝硬化患者的费用而言，人类的痛苦，住院费用，损失生产率高。
Causes 原因
Cirrhosis has many causes.肝硬化有多方面的原因。 In the United States, chronic alcoholism and hepatitis C are the most common ones.在美国，慢性酒精中毒和丙型肝炎是最常见的。
Alcoholic liver disease. To many people, cirrhosis of the liver is synonymous with chronic alcoholism, but in fact, alcoholism is only one of the causes. 酒精性肝病。对许多人来说，肝硬化就是慢性酒精中毒，但事实上，酗酒是唯一的原因之一。 Alcoholic cirrhosis usually develops after more than a decade of heavy drinking.酒精性肝硬化通常经过十多年的过量饮酒。 The amount of alcohol that can injure the liver varies greatly from person to person.数额酒精，可损害肝脏有很大不同因人而异。 In women, as few as two to three drinks per day have been linked with cirrhosis and in men, as few as three to four drinks per day.在妇女，只有两到三年饮料每天已与肝硬化和男人，只有三至四每天喝。 Alcohol seems to injure the liver by blocking the normal metabolism of protein, fats, and carbohydrates.酒精似乎伤肝阻断正常的蛋白质代谢，脂肪和碳水化合物。
 Chronic hepatitis C. The hepatitis C virus ranks with alcohol as a major cause of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis in the United States. 慢性丙型肝炎丙型肝炎病毒与酒精队伍的一个重要原因，慢性肝病及肝硬化在美国。 Infection with this virus causes inflammation of and low grade damage to the liver that over several decades can lead to cirrhosis.感染这种病毒引起的炎症和低年级的损害肝脏，超过了几十年可导致肝硬化。
Chronic hepatitis B and D. The hepatitis B virus is probably the most common cause of cirrhosis worldwide, but it is less common in the United States and the Western world. 慢性乙型肝炎和D乙型肝炎病毒可能是最常见的肝硬化世界各地，但它是不太常见的在美国和西方世界。 Hepatitis B, like hepatitis C, causes liver inflammation and injury that over several decades can lead to cirrhosis. B型肝炎一样， C型肝炎，肝脏发炎的原因和受伤，几十年来可以导致肝硬化。 Hepatitis D is another virus that infects the liver, but only in people who already have hepatitis B.丁型肝炎是病毒感染的肝，但只能在人已经谁B型肝炎
Autoimmune hepatitis. This disease appears to be caused by the immune system attacking the liver and causing inflammation, damage, and eventually scarring and cirrhosis. 自身免疫性肝炎。这种疾病似乎是造成免疫系统的攻击，并造成肝脏炎症，破坏，并最终疤痕和肝硬化。
Inherited diseases. Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, hemochromatosis, Wilson's disease, galactosemia, and glycogen storage diseases are among the inherited diseases that interfere with the way the liver produces, processes, and stores enzymes, proteins, metals, and other substances the body needs to function properly. 遗传性疾病。 α - 1抗胰蛋白酶缺乏症，血色病，肝豆状核变性，半乳糖血症，糖原贮积病属于遗传性的疾病，干扰肝脏的方式生产，流程和商店的酶，蛋白质，金属和其他物质的身体需要正常运作。
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In NASH, fat builds up in the liver and eventually causes scar tissue. 非酒精性肝炎（ NASH ） 。在肝炎，脂肪积聚于肝脏，并最终导致疤痕组织。 This type of hepatitis appears to be associated with diabetes, protein malnutrition, obesity, coronary artery disease, and treatment with corticosteroid medications.这种类型的肝炎似乎是与糖尿病有关，蛋白质营养不良，肥胖，冠状动脉疾病，以及糖皮质激素治疗药物。
 Blocked bile ducts. When the ducts that carry bile out of the liver are blocked, bile backs up and damages liver tissue. 封锁胆管。导管时携带了胆肝都被阻断，胆汁备份和损害肝脏组织。 In babies, blocked bile ducts are most commonly caused by biliary atresia, a disease in which the bile ducts are absent or injured.在婴儿，胆管阻塞是最常见的引起的胆道闭锁，这种疾病在该胆管均缺席或受伤。 In adults, the most common cause is primary biliary cirrhosis, a disease in which the ducts become inflamed, blocked, and scarred.在成年人中，最常见的原因是原发性胆汁性肝硬化，这种疾病在该管发炎，阻止和创伤。 Secondary biliary cirrhosis can happen after gallbladder surgery if the ducts are inadvertently tied off or injured.二次胆汁性肝硬化可能发生胆囊手术后，如果导管无意中并列关闭或受伤。
Drugs, toxins, and infections. Severe reactions to prescription drugs, prolonged exposure to environmental toxins, the parasitic infection schistosomiasis, and repeated bouts of heart failure with liver congestion can all lead to cirrhosis. 药物，毒素和感染。重症反应的处方药，长期暴露在环境毒素，寄生虫感染了血吸虫病，和反复较量心脏衰竭与肝挤塞都可以导致肝硬化。
Symptoms 症状
Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.许多人肝硬化患者没有症状的早期阶段疾病。 However, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells, liver function starts to fail and a person may experience the following symptoms:然而，由于疤痕组织取代了健康的细胞，肝功能开始要失败的，一个人可能遇到下列症状：
• exhaustion â € ¢用尽
• fatigue â € ¢疲劳
• loss of appetite â € ¢食欲不振
• nausea â € ¢恶心
• weakness â € ¢弱点
• weight loss â € ¢体重减轻
• abdominal pain â € ¢腹痛
• spider-like blood vessels (spider angiomas) that develop on the skin â € ¢蜘蛛状血管（蜘蛛血管瘤）的发展对皮肤
As the disease progresses, complications may develop.随着病情的发展，并发症的可能发展。 In some people, these may be the first signs of the disease.在某些人来说，这些可能是第一个迹象，这种疾病。
Complications of Cirrhosis 肝硬化的并发症
Loss of liver function affects the body in many ways.损失的肝功能影响的机构在许多方面。 Following are the common problems, or complications, caused by cirrhosis.以下是共同的问题，或并发症，肝硬化引起的。
Edema and ascites. When the liver loses its ability to make the protein albumin, water accumulates in the legs (edema) and abdomen (ascites). 水肿和腹水。当肝功能一旦丧失，就会使蛋白质白蛋白，水积聚在腿部（水肿）和腹部（腹水） 。
Bruising and bleeding. When the liver slows or stops production of the proteins needed for blood clotting, a person will bruise or bleed easily. 擦伤和出血。当肝脏放慢或停止生产的蛋白质所需的血液凝结，一个人会挫伤或出血容易。 The palms of the hands may be reddish and blotchy with palmar erythema.棕榈树的手可能是红色和blotchy与掌红斑。
Jaundice. Jaundice is a yellowing of the skin and eyes that occurs when the diseased liver does not absorb enough bilirubin. 黄疸。黄疸是一种泛黄的皮肤和眼睛时发生的肝病并没有足够的胆红素吸收。
Itching. Bile products deposited in the skin may cause intense itching. 痒。胆汁的产品存放在可能会导致皮肤瘙痒激烈。
Gallstones.胆结石。 If cirrhosis prevents bile from reaching the gallbladder, gallstones may develop.如果阻止胆汁性肝硬化进入胆囊，胆囊结石可能发展。
Toxins in the blood or brain. A damaged liver cannot remove toxins from the blood, causing them to accumulate in the blood and eventually the brain. 毒素的血液或脑。损坏肝脏不能去除毒素从血液，使他们积累在血液中，并最终大脑。 There, toxins can dull mental functioning and cause personality changes, coma, and even death.因此，毒素可枯燥的精神运作，造成人格的变化，昏迷，甚至死亡。 Signs of the buildup of toxins in the brain include neglect of personal appearance, unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, or changes in sleep habits.迹象建设的毒素在大脑中包括忽视亲自出庭，无应答，健忘，无法集中，或改变睡眠习惯。
Sensitivity to medication. Cirrhosis slows the liver's ability to filter medications from the blood. 敏感性药物。肝硬化肝放缓的能力来筛选药物从血液。 Because the liver does not remove drugs from the blood at the usual rate, they act longer than expected and build up in the body.由于肝脏并没有消除毒品从血液在正常率，他们的行为比预期更长的时间，并建立在体内。 This causes a person to be more sensitive to medications and their side effects.这会导致一个人更为敏感的药物和其副作用。
Portal hypertension. Normally, blood from the intestines and spleen is carried to the liver through the portal vein. 门脉高压症。通常情况下，血液从小肠和脾脏进行到肝脏的门静脉。 But cirrhosis slows the normal flow of blood through the portal vein, which increases the pressure inside it.但是，肝硬化放缓的正常流动的血液通过静脉，增加了压力里面。 This condition is called portal hypertension.这种情况被称为门静脉高压症。
Varices. When blood flow through the portal vein slows, blood from the intestines and spleen backs up into blood vessels in the stomach and esophagus. 静脉曲张。当血流通过静脉缓慢，血液从小肠和脾脏备份到血管中的胃和食管。 These blood vessels may become enlarged because they are not meant to carry this much blood.这些血管可成为扩大，因为他们并不意味着携带这么多的血。 The enlarged blood vessels, called varices, have thin walls and carry high pressure, and thus are more likely to burst.扩大血管，所谓的静脉曲张，有薄壁和进行高压力，从而更容易破裂。 If they do burst, the result is a serious bleeding problem in the upper stomach or esophagus that requires immediate medical attention.如果他们不爆裂，结果是一个严重的出血问题上胃或食管，需要立即就医。
Insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. Cirrhosis causes resistance to insulin. 胰岛素抵抗和2型糖尿病。肝硬化导致胰岛素抵抗。 This hormone, produced by the pancreas, enables blood glucose to be used as energy by the cells of the body.这种激素是由胰腺，使血糖被用来作为能源的细胞体。 If you have insulin resistance, your muscle, fat, and liver cells do not use insulin properly.如果您有胰岛素抵抗，你的肌肉，脂肪，和肝细胞不正常使用胰岛素。 The pancreas tries to keep up with the demand for insulin by producing more.胰腺试图跟上需求的胰岛素生产更多。 Eventually, the pancreas cannot keep up with the body's need for insulin, and type 2 diabetes develops as excess glucose builds up in the bloodstream.最后，胰腺不能跟上身体的需要胰岛素，与2型糖尿病的发展过多的葡萄糖建立了血液中。
Liver cancer. Hepatocellular carcinoma, a type of liver cancer commonly caused by cirrhosis, starts in the liver tissue itself. 肝癌。肝癌是一种常见的肝癌所造成的肝硬化，开始在肝脏组织本身。 It has a high mortality rate.它有一个高的死亡率。
Problems in other organs. Cirrhosis can cause immune system dysfunction, leading to infection. 问题的其他机构。肝硬化可导致免疫系统功能失调，导致感染。 Fluid in the abdomen (ascites) may become infected with bacteria normally present in the intestines.流体的腹部（腹水）可能成为细菌感染通常存在于肠道。 Cirrhosis can also lead to impotence, kidney dysfunction and failure, and osteoporosis.肝硬化也可能导致阳痿，肾功能障碍和失败，和骨质疏松症。
Diagnosis 诊断
The doctor may diagnose cirrhosis on the basis of symptoms, laboratory tests, the medical history, and a physical examination.医生可诊断肝硬化的基础上，症状，化验，医疗史，体检。 For example, during a physical examination, the doctor may notice that the liver feels harder or larger than usual and order blood tests that can show whether liver disease is present.例如，在体检，医生可能会发现，肝脏觉得难以或大于正常秩序抽血化验，可以显示肝脏疾病是否存在。
If looking at the liver is necessary to check for signs of disease, the doctor might order a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or a scan of the liver using a radioisotope (a harmless radioactive substance that highlights the liver).如果看的肝脏是必要的，以检查疾病的迹象，医生可能为了一个计算机化轴向断层扫描（ CAT ）的扫描，超声波，磁共振成像（ MRI ） ，或扫描肝脏使用放射性同位素（一种无害的放射性物质突出的肝脏） 。 Or the doctor might look at the liver using a laparoscope, an instrument that is inserted through the abdomen and relays pictures back to a computer screen.或医生可能会在肝脏利用腹腔镜，一种手段，通过插入腹部和继电器的照片回到电脑屏幕上。
A liver biopsy will confirm the diagnosis.肝活检证实诊断。 For a biopsy, the doctor uses a needle to take a tiny sample of liver tissue, then examines it under the microscope for scarring or other signs of disease.对于活检，医生使用一种针采取一个小样本的肝组织，然后检查它在显微镜下的疤痕或其他疾病的迹象。
Treatment 治疗
Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and reduce complications.肝损害的肝硬化不能逆转，但治疗可以阻止或延迟进一步的发展和减少并发症的发生。 Treatment depends on the cause of cirrhosis and any complications a person is experiencing.治疗取决于引起肝硬化和任何并发症，一个人正在经历。 For example, cirrhosis caused by alcohol abuse is treated by abstaining from alcohol.例如，肝硬化引起的酗酒治疗弃权的酒精。 Treatment for hepatitis-related cirrhosis involves medications used to treat the different types of hepatitis, such as interferon for viral hepatitis and corticosteroids for autoimmune hepatitis.治疗肝炎相关肝硬化涉及药品用来治疗不同类型的肝炎，如干扰素病毒性肝炎和类固醇的自身免疫性肝炎。 Cirrhosis caused by Wilson's disease, in which copper builds up in organs, is treated with medications to remove the copper.肝硬化引起的肝豆状核变性，其中铜建立了器官，是治疗药物，以消除铜。 These are just a few examples--treatment for cirrhosis resulting from other diseases depends on the underlying cause.这些只是几个例子-治疗肝硬化引起的其他疾病取决于根本原因。 In all cases, regardless of the cause, following a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol are essential because the body needs all the nutrients it can get, and alcohol will only lead to more liver damage.在所有情况下，不论原因，以下健康的饮食，不喝酒是必不可少的，因为身体需要的所有营养物质可以得到，和酒精只会导致更多的肝功能损害。 Light physical activity can help stop or delay cirrhosis as well.轻体力活动可以帮助阻止或延迟肝硬化以及。
Treatment will also include remedies for complications.待遇也将包括补救措施的并发症。 For example, for ascites and edema, the doctor may recommend a low-sodium diet or the use of diuretics, which are drugs that remove fluid from the body.例如，对于腹水和水肿，医生可能建议低钠盐饮食或使用利尿剂，这是药物，消除液体从身体。 Antibiotics will be prescribed for infections, and various medications can help with itching.抗生素将订明的感染，以及各种药物能帮助止痒。 Protein causes toxins to form in the digestive tract, so eating less protein will help decrease the buildup of toxins in the blood and brain.蛋白质原因毒素，形成消化道，所以少吃蛋白质将有助于减少建设的毒素在血液和脑组织。 The doctor may also prescribe laxatives to help absorb the toxins and remove them from the intestines.医生也可以开泻药来帮助吸收的毒素，消除他们的肠子。
For portal hypertension, the doctor may prescribe a blood pressure medication such as a beta-blocker.门静脉高压症，医生可订明血压药物，如β -受体阻滞剂。 If varices bleed, the doctor may either inject them with a clotting agent or perform a so-called rubber-band ligation, which uses a special device to compress the varices and stop the bleeding.如果静脉曲张出血，医生可注入他们的凝血剂或进行所谓的橡皮带结扎，它使用一个特殊的设备压缩，停止静脉曲张出血。
When complications cannot be controlled or when the liver becomes so damaged from scarring that it completely stops functioning, a liver transplant is necessary.当并发症无法控制或当肝脏受损变得如此从疤痕，它完全停止运作，肝移植是必要的。 In liver transplantation surgery, a diseased liver is removed and replaced with a healthy one from an organ donor.在肝移植手术，肝病被删除，代之以健康的一个器官捐赠。 About 80 to 90 percent of patients survive liver transplantation.大约有80到百分之九十的病人肝移植生存。 Survival rates have improved over the past several years because of drugs such as cyclosporine and tacrolimus, which suppress the immune system and keep it from attacking and damaging the new liver.生存率有所改善，过去几年，由于药物，如环孢素和他克莫司，它抑制免疫系统并保持攻击和破坏新的肝脏。
Source: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse资料来源：国家消化系统疾病信息中心
Updated: December 2003更新时间： 2003年12月 |
Cirrhosis of the Liver 肝硬化 
