Treatment of Liver Cirrhosis in Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for liver cirrhosis treatment in Germany
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Liver cirrhosis is a general term describing irreversible changes in the liver, characterized by the death of liver cells and the formation of abnormal blood vessels. Liver cirrhosis is considered the final stage in the course of many diseases and pathologies of the liver and nearby digestive organs (gallbladder, biliary tract, pancreas).
Content
- About liver cirrhosis
- What changes occurring with liver cirrhosis
- What are the complications of liver cirrhosis?
- Causes of liver cirrhosis
- Liver cirrhosis symptoms
- Diagnostics
- How liver cirrhosis is treated in Germany
- Methods of liver cirrhosis treatment in Germany
- Prevention and prognosis for liver cirrhosis
- Cost of treatment in Germany
- Why undergo treatment in Germany for liver cirrhosis?
About liver cirrhosis
Liver cirrhosis is a serious disease that requires complex treatment. Various factors that can be controlled and, accordingly, modified lead to the development of the pathology. Inflammatory processes are constantly progressing, as a result of which hepatocytes massively degenerate into fibrous tissue.
Hepatocytes are cellular structures of the liver that perform important functions. When they change, metabolic processes and secretory activity are disrupted; toxins and other harmful substances are not removed from the blood. That is, the liver no longer performs its functions in full. Therefore, such changes are very dangerous because they ultimately affect the whole body.
What changes occurring with liver cirrhosis
Changes in the structure of the organ and the degeneration of normal liver cells lead to the fact that the liver is unable to perform its functions. In particular:
- The synthesis of blood plasma proteins (albumin and globulins) is disrupted
- The synthesis of proteins necessary for normal blood clotting is disrupted
- The liver is unable to remove toxins from the blood
Besides, an increase in pressure in the portal vein due to compression of small vessels of the liver by overgrown tissue occurs. As a result, the blood begins to "bypass" the liver. Hence dilated hemorrhoidal veins, veins around the navel, as well as veins in the esophagus, are prone to excessive bleeding.
What are the complications of liver cirrhosis?
One of the life-threatening complications of liver cirrhosis is liver failure. Acute liver failure is a terminal condition that requires urgent treatment. Chronic liver failure leads to severe disorders of the nervous system. If untreated, liver failure can lead to the development of a hepatic coma (mortality in patients in a hepatic coma is about 80%).
In the vast majority of cases, progressive liver cirrhosis is complicated by ascites and portal hypertension. Ascites is an accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity that manifests itself with an increase in the size of the abdomen. Portal hypertension is the stagnation of blood in the portal vein, characterized by increased bypass venous outflow. As a result, varicose veins of the esophagus, stomach, rectum are formed; ruptures of their walls and bleeding occur.
In addition to the above, liver cirrhosis can be complicated by additional infections, the occurrence of liver cancer, and the possibility of developing renal failure.
Causes of liver cirrhosis
The two most important causes of liver cirrhosis are chronic hepatitis (primarily hepatitis B and C) and alcohol abuse. Together, they cause at least 80% of all liver cirrhosis cases.
The following factors contribute to the development of liver disease:
- Autoimmune hepatitis (this disease is associated with malfunctioning of the immune system: the body begins to produce substances that damage the liver)
- Long-term cholestasis (a violation of bile outflow associated with blockage of the intrahepatic or extrahepatic biliary tract)
- Poisoning with toxic substances
- Chronic liver diseases (so-called cryptogenic cirrhosis is diagnosed in about 20% of cases)
Liver cirrhosis symptoms
Unfortunately, liver cirrhosis does not always manifest itself clinically. Following symptoms often appear at the advanced stages:
- Jaundice
- An increase in the volume of the abdomen, liver enlargement
- Bleeding gums
- Drowsiness during the day and insomnia at night
With cirrhosis, the pathology often does not manifest itself with liver-related clinical signs. Although, other symptoms can be observed:
- Heaviness in the right hypochondrium (may be the result of gradual enlargement of the liver)
- Stool disorders (the appearance of loose stools black in color may indicate gastrointestinal bleeding, one of the causes of which may be cirrhosis)
- Bloating in cirrhosis (may actually be fluid accumulation – ascites, which indicates the progression of the liver disease)
Signs of liver cirrhosis in men and women do not differ fundamentally.
Diagnostics
In a general blood test in cirrhosis of the liver, anemia, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia can be noted.
Biochemical blood tests reveal an increase in the activity of liver enzymes, an increase in the blood levels of bilirubin, potassium, and sodium, a decrease in urea and creatinine, and the level of albumin. German doctors also carry out tests to detect antibodies to hepatitis viruses and their antigens.
Ultrasound scan of the abdominal organs reveals changes in the size and shape of the liver, as well as the signs of portal hypertension and changes in the spleen.
CT scan of the abdominal cavity allows even more detailed visualization of the liver, blood vessels, and bile ducts. If necessary, an MRI of the liver is performed.
A liver biopsy allows doctors to assess the nature of morphological changes and make an assumption about the causes of liver cirrhosis.
How liver cirrhosis is treated in Germany
Treatment for patients with liver cirrhosis in Germany is comprehensive and includes the following aspects:
- Lifestyle modification, taking into account the stage of cirrhosis and the presence of complications (specific recommendations are given by the doctor individually to each patient)
- Elimination of the cause of the disease that has led to the development of cirrhosis (with viral etiology of cirrhosis, the selection of effective antiviral therapy; with alcoholic cirrhosis, a complete refusal of alcohol; with autoimmune diseases, immunosuppressive therapy)
- Correction of liver dysfunctions
- Treatment of liver cirrhosis complications
If the process continues to progress despite the whole range of measures taken, the question of placing the patient on the waiting list for liver transplantation with its subsequent carrying out is resolved.
Liver transplantation is a last resort when all possible treatments have been used. However, in many cases, with timely and proper treatment it is possible to slow down the rate of progression of liver cirrhosis or even reverse it. Close communication between the patient and the doctor, regular monitoring, and strict adherence to the recommendations and prescriptions of the attending physician are of no small importance.
Methods of liver cirrhosis treatment in Germany
Germany is a country with advanced medicine and advanced hepatology in particular. It is characterized by high rates of effectiveness of the treatment of many liver diseases, including liver cirrhosis. Therefore, statistically, it is highly probable to achieve a stable remission of liver cirrhosis with treatment in Germany.
Treatment in Germany for patients with liver cirrhosis is prescribed individually and includes recommendations for diet and lifestyle, as well as medical measures.The medical measures are aimed at eliminating the etiological factor, alleviating manifestations of liver failure, and improving the functions of the remaining cells of the liver.
Liver cirrhosis treatment includes various methods, such as conservative treatment, stem cell transplant, detoxification therapy, and liver transplantation.
In conservative treatment, German doctors use high-quality medications. The basis of therapy includes drugs that eliminate inflammation and trigger regeneration processes in the liver.
After stem cell transplant, stem cells replace the affected hepatocytes, restoring liver function. The high efficiency of this innovative method has been already observed in the treatment of cancer processes and liver cirrhosis.
The detoxification therapy method consists of the elimination of toxic substances from the blood. After detox procedures, there is a significant improvement in the patient's well-being. Sometimes doctors cancel drugs as a result of an improvement in the activity of the hepatobiliary system. Of particular importance in the treatment of liver diseases is diet therapy, which is selected for each patient individually, depending on the patient's tolerances and preferences.
Surgical intervention for liver cirrhosis is carried out in the absence of a positive result of conservative treatment. If all of these methods are ineffective, liver transplantation is performed.
Prevention and prognosis for liver cirrhosis
Alcoholic cirrhosis with continued alcohol consumption is prone to rapid decompensation and the development of dangerous complications. Patients with ascites have a survival prognosis of about 3-5 years. When bleeding from varicose veins occurs, mortality is about 30-50%. The development of hepatic coma is fatal for the vast majority of patients (80-100%).
With early detection of the disease, successful eradication of the etiological factor, and adherence to dietary and lifestyle recommendations, the prognosis of survival is favorable.
Prevention of liver cirrhosis consists of limiting alcohol intake, timely and sufficient treatment of viral hepatitis and other diseases that contribute to the development of cirrhosis. A healthy balanced diet and an active lifestyle are also recommended.
Cost of treatment in Germany
The important thing in treatment of liver cirrhosis is to find qualified specialists who know how to slow down the disease progression and bring it into remission.
German specialists use all developments and the latest technologies for the prevention, diagnostics, and treatment of liver cirrhosis in Germany, which allows achieving the successful results in each case.
Prices for liver cirrhosis treatment in Germany do not differ much from the prices in other countries with developed medicine. The cost of treatment and diagnosis in Germany starts at 7,430 EUR, where the cost of treatment without diagnostics is about 4,000 EUR. The cost of treatment with stem cell therapy is about 17,050 EUR.
If liver cancer was detected as the concomitant pathology, then the price will increase depending on the choice of treatment method for cancer. Keep in mind that the final cost of treatment is calculated after the exact procedures involved in treatment are known.
Why undergo treatment in Germany for liver cirrhosis?
Firstly, quite often, local doctors find it difficult to identify the causes of the disease and choose a proper treatment. Secondly, hepatology is one of the most developed fields of German medicine, and the area of expertise of brilliant German surgeons, diagnosticians, and gastroenterologists. Finally, Germany has modern medicines that may not be available in other countries.
The Booking Health team will help patients with liver cirrhosis who are interested in treatment in Germany. Medical advisors from Booking Health will provide information about clinics in Germany that specialize in the treatment of liver cirrhosis and will help you find the best medical facility for you, so that the experience of treatment in Germany with Booking Health will be as comfortable as possible.
Just leave a request on the Booking Health website, and a medical advisor will contact you shortly.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Sergey Pashchenko
