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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staff
Treatments for the underlying cause of cirrhosis
In early cirrhosis, it may be possible to minimize damage to the liver by treating the underlying cause. For example:
- Treatment for alcohol dependency. People with cirrhosis caused by alcohol use need to stop drinking. If stopping alcohol use is difficult, your doctor may recommend a treatment program for alcohol addiction.
- Medications to control hepatitis. Medications may control damage to liver cells caused by hepatitis B or C.
Treatments for complications of cirrhosis
Your health care team will work to treat any complications of cirrhosis, such as:
- Excess fluid in your body. Fluid that accumulates in your abdomen (ascites) or your legs (edema) may be managed with a low-sodium diet and water pills. More severe fluid buildup may require procedures to drain the fluid or surgery to relieve pressure.
- Increased pressure in the portal vein and surrounding small veins. Blood pressure medications may control increasing pressure in the veins around your liver. This may prevent severe bleeding. Surgery to place a stent to hold open the portal vein also may be necessary. If you've been diagnosed with cirrhosis, you'll likely undergo periodic endoscopy procedures to examine the veins in your esophagus and stomach for signs of bleeding.
- Infections. You may receive antibiotics or other treatments for infections.
- Liver cancer screening. Your doctor may recommend periodic blood tests and ultrasound exams to look for signs of liver cancer.
- High levels of toxins in the blood (hepatic encephalopathy). Your doctor may instruct you to watch for signs and symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, which can range from confusion and mild changes in your thinking to coma. Medications can help treat hepatic encephalopathy.
Liver transplant surgery
People with advanced cirrhosis may require liver transplants if their livers are no longer functioning (liver failure). A liver transplant is a procedure to remove your liver and replace it with a whole liver from a deceased donor or with part of a liver from a living donor.
- Cirrhosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis/index.htm. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Ferri FF. Cirrhosis. In: Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2011. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-05610-6..C2009-0-38600-6--TOP&isbn=978-0-323-05610-6&about=true&uniqId=230100505-53. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Understanding cirrhosis of the liver. American Gastroenterological Association. http://www.gastro.org/frame-templates/print_template.cfm. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Jones AL, et al. Hepatic toxicology. In: Shannon MW, et al. Haddad and Winchester's Clinical Management of Poisoning and Drug Overdose. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?about=true&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-7216-0693-4..50002-5&isbn=978-0-7216-0693-4&uniqId=226391226-4. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Your liver. Your life. American Liver Foundation. http://www.yourliver.org/Liver-Wellness-Presentation.pdf. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Sanchez W, et al. Liver cirrhosis. The American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/livercirrhosis.asp. Accessed Nov. 12, 2010.
- Rambaldi A, et al. S-adenosyl-L-methionine for alcoholic liver disease (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2006:CD002235.
- Rambaldi A, et al. Milk thistle for alcoholic and/or hepatitis B or C virus liver diseases (review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007:CD003620.
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