What is fibrosis? Symptoms, photos, treatment

What is fibrosis?

This is a consolidation of connective tissue, in whichthere are cicatricial changes in organs. Physicians view the process as a natural reaction of the body, aimed at providing isolation of the focus of inflammatory phenomena from the systemic blood flow, as well as surrounding tissues. When there is a fibrous replacement of tissues, this leads to the loss of specific functions of organs that have become affected. For example, if we talk about pulmonary fibrosis, it will be pulmonary insufficiency. The reasons for this problem can be as follows:

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  irradiation;


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  injury;


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  allergy;


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  infection.

With regard to the lungs, the disease is oftenbecomes an inverse reaction of taking some drugs. These are medicines intended for chemotherapy, means for arrhythmia, antibiotics. With multi-course therapy, some of the patients develop this disease, which although not common, but has a place to be.

If we talk about risk groups, that is, those patients who are susceptible to the possible appearance of ailment most of all, then among them there are asthmatics.

Types of the disease

Focal fibrosis is characterized by the fact that small introbular scars appear on the site of the granuloma, indicative of liver damage, which was earlier.

Zone fibrosis extends to the portal tracts from the central veins.

Multilobular fibrosis occurs as a result ofmassive processes of necrosis of the liver parenchyma, which occupy the territory of several lobules. Part of the hepatic tissue on this background still continues to maintain its usual structure.

With bridging fibrosis, connective septa begin to form between the hepatic vessels.

During perivenular fibrosis, pathogenic processes spread to the central vein, which leads to a thickening of its walls. This is especially true for drug addicts.

Symptomatology

Like any health problem, fibrosis has its symptoms. Among them:

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  enlarged spleen;


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  portal hypertension (varicose veins, piercing the esophagus, as well as bleeding from them);


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  hypersplenism. However, there is a complete absence of signs of liver cirrhosis.

Therapy

People who have experienced fibrosis need to know that in this case their treatment is usually in the competence of a gastroenterologist and surgeon. In this case, the therapy is carried out in the following areas:

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  getting rid of the main ailment with the aim to defeat fibrosis;


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  decrease in activity of inflammatory processes of the liver;


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  activation of the mechanisms of fibrolysis in order to destroy the excess of the VKM protein.

A few words about diagnosis

Speaking of diagnostic procedures, it is worthnote that they have their difficulties. So, diagnosing fibrosis in the early stages is extremely difficult, since there is no any serious symptomatology. However, nevertheless, it is possible to establish the presence of an ailment. To do this, the liver is examined with ultrasound, and urine and blood tests are also taken. A small sample of organ tissue is selected by a small needle. It is mixed with a specially designed dye, the reaction with which helps to determine the stage. Such tests doctors are advised to conduct every five years.

Complications

Given the features of the course of the disease, it is extremely important to engage in its timely treatment. Otherwise, you will face a number of complications, including:

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  transition to cirrhosis;


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  ascites (the onset of accumulation in the abdominal cavity of the fluid);


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  peritonitis (inflammatory processes in the peritoneum);


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  varicosity;


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  vomiting with blood;


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  a chair of black color;


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  confused consciousness.

These consequences are far from the only ones in case you postpone the treatment of the disease. That's why you should not delay, but it's better to immediately turn to specialists.