Fadlallah Hiba, El Masri Diala, Bahmad Hisham F, Abou-Kheir Wassim, El Masri Jad
Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology, and Physiological Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 1107-2020, Lebanon.
Faculty of Medicine, University of Balamand, Al-Kurah, Tripoli P.O. Box 100, Lebanon.
Med Sci (Basel). 2025 Feb 5;13(1):13. doi: 10.3390/medsci13010013.
Liver cirrhosis represents the advanced pathological stage of chronic liver disease, characterized by the progressive destruction and regeneration of the hepatic parenchyma over years, culminating in fibrosis and disruption of the vascular architecture. As a leading global cause of morbidity and mortality, it continues to affect millions worldwide, imposing a substantial burden on healthcare systems. Alcoholic/nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and chronic viral hepatitis infection, hepatitis C (HCV) in particular, remain leading causes of cirrhosis. Despite significant advances in understanding the pathogenesis of cirrhosis, its management is still complex due to the multifaceted complications, including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, variceal bleeding, and hepatocellular carcinoma, all of which severely compromise the patient outcomes and quality of life. This review aims at filling a critical gap by providing a comprehensive summary of the latest evidence on the complications and management of liver cirrhosis. Evidence-based therapies targeting both the etiologies and complications of cirrhosis are essential for improving outcomes. While liver transplantation is considered a definitive cure, advancements in pharmacological therapies offer promising avenues for halting and potentially reversing disease progression. This review summarizes the latest management strategies for cirrhosis and its associated complications, emphasizing the importance of early intervention and novel therapeutic options for improving outcomes and quality of life in affected individuals.
肝硬化代表慢性肝病的晚期病理阶段,其特征是多年来肝实质进行性破坏和再生,最终导致纤维化和血管结构破坏。作为全球发病和死亡的主要原因,它继续影响着全球数百万人,给医疗系统带来沉重负担。酒精性/非酒精性脂肪性肝病和慢性病毒感染,尤其是丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染,仍然是肝硬化的主要病因。尽管在理解肝硬化发病机制方面取得了重大进展,但由于其多方面的并发症,包括腹水、肝性脑病、静脉曲张出血和肝细胞癌,其管理仍然复杂,所有这些并发症都严重影响患者的预后和生活质量。本综述旨在通过全面总结肝硬化并发症和管理的最新证据来填补关键空白。针对肝硬化病因和并发症的循证治疗对于改善预后至关重要。虽然肝移植被认为是一种根治方法,但药物治疗的进展为阻止并可能逆转疾病进展提供了有希望的途径。本综述总结了肝硬化及其相关并发症的最新管理策略,强调了早期干预和新治疗选择对于改善受影响个体的预后和生活质量的重要性。