Treatment of Liver Fibrosis in Germany
Best hospitals and doctors for liver fibrosis treatment in Germany
Leading hospitals
Cost for treatment
Content
- How common is liver fibrosis?
- The process of fibrosis formation
- What causes liver fibrosis?
- Symptoms
- Complications
- Diagnostics of liver fibrosis in Germany
- The importance of liver fibrosis treatment
- Principles of liver fibrosis treatment in Germany
- Methods for liver fibrosis treatment in Germany
- The cost of treatment in Germany
- How to undergo liver fibrosis treatment in Germany?
Liver fibrosis is a liver disease characterized by an excessive development of fibrous connective tissue under the influence of prolonged inflammation.
How common is liver fibrosis?
Liver fibrosis affects millions of people, most of whom have a history of chronic hepatitis or alcoholic liver disease. In the US, the liver fibrosis is observed in about 360 cases per 100 thousand people, and it is the leading cause of death among diseases of the digestive system (about 30 thousand deaths per year). Besides, about 10,000 deaths are due to liver cancer, which often occurs at the advanced stage of liver fibrosis.
Clinical manifestations of liver fibrosis vary from mild to the pronounced medical signs. About 40% of patients with this liver disease are asymptomatic for many years, but the liver disease inevitably progresses and ends with the development of complications.
The process of fibrosis formation
Liver fibrosis develops as a result of the response of liver cells to damage resulting from the inflammatory process caused by exposure to various damaging agents. This process is accompanied by the activation of inflammatory cells, which produce active substances. Among other things, these substances stimulate synthesis of collagen – a special protein that forms the basis of the body's connective tissue and fills the spaces between cells.
Initially, fibrous tissue, composed of collagen and its derivatives, plays a protective role. It stops the spread of infectious processes to neighboring areas, isolates areas with pathological changes from the systemic blood flow, etc. Over time, the amount of fibrous tissue increases and it replaces healthy liver tissue, which eventually disrupts liver function and hampers blood circulation in it.
What causes liver fibrosis?
Liver fibrosis arises when the liver is severely affected by inflammation. In such condition an attempt to repair itself ultimately fails, because liver cells are being replaced by fibrous tissue. And this tissue eventually intermits the normal functioning of the liver.
Liver fibrosis is a consequence of certain major medical conditions, including:
- Alcoholism
- Chronic hepatitis
- Fatty liver disease
Other possible causes of liver fibrosis include biliary duct inflammation, autoimmune diseases, hereditary metabolic disorders, and intake of certain therapeutic medicines.
Symptoms
The first medical sign in patients with liver fibrosis is constant fatigue for no apparent reason. Patients feel weak, become irritable, and high-reactive. Also, patients often experience headaches.
Then specific medical signs appear that include:
- Nausea that sometimes leads to vomiting
- Alternating diarrhea and constipation
- Pain in the abdomen, aggravated by eating fried or fatty foods, as well as by drinking alcohol
- Reluctant eating, up to a complete lack of appetite for a long time
- Heaviness in the stomach
- Bloating
All of the above may indicate other diseases. Therefore, at this stage, there are not enough indicating factors to diagnose liver disease. Moreover, in about 20% of people who suffered from liver fibrosis, it is possible to determine the true cause of the symptoms only after death.
The initial stage of liver damage with fibrosis is characterized by an increase in the size of the organ. In addition, there may be a decrease in the level of leukocytes, platelets, and erythrocytes. As a result, patients have anemia and thrombocytopenia. An enlargement of the spleen, varicose veins in the esophagus, and hemorrhages indicate that the disease is progressing to the stage of cirrhosis.
Complications
Lack of timely liver fibrosis treatment can lead to the development of severe complications that can be fatal. These include hepatocellular insufficiency (liver cells practically do not perform their functions), gastrointestinal bleeding, increased pressure in the portal vein, and hepatic coma.
The main danger of liver fibrosis is its transition to cirrhosis. Unfortunately, this is a very common situation, since fibrosis is practically asymptomatic and many people "feel" it already at the stage of cirrhosis, when symptoms characteristic of liver failure appear.
Diagnostics of liver fibrosis in Germany
The main methods for diagnosing liver fibrosis are:
- Ultrasound scan of the liver
- CT, MRI scan of the liver
- Ultrasound elastography
- Magnetic resonance elastography
- Blood tests for markers of liver function, such as bilirubin levels
- Liver biopsy
As a rule, not all of the above diagnostic tests are involved in making an accurate diagnosis. The choice of methods for diagnosing liver fibrosis in Germany is carried out by the doctor based on medical information about the liver disease obtained earlier, and the medical information further needed.
The importance of liver fibrosis treatment
Liver fibrosis is a chronic liver disease in which connective tissue grows in the liver, replacing functional cells. As a rule, this occurs against the background of inflammatory processes of different etiology.
With progression, changes in the structure of the liver lead to liver failure and cirrhosis. These are very dangerous conditions that can be fatal. Therefore, the absence of liver fibrosis treatment is unacceptable. And the sooner an accurate diagnosis of the medical condition is carried out and an adequate liver fibrosis treatment is selected, the more successful the fight against the liver disease will be.
Liver fibrosis treatment in Germany includes the use of the most effective methods of treatment aimed at maintaining the functionality of the organ and preventing the development of complications, primarily cirrhosis.
Principles of liver fibrosis treatment in Germany
Liver fibrosis can be mild, moderate, or severe. Each of the stages has its own characteristics of the clinical course. Liver fibrosis treatment in Germany is carried out taking into account the stage of the liver disease.
In German hepatology centers, an integrated approach is used, which includes pathogenetic and symptomatic therapy. Thus, it is possible to stop or slow down the process of replacing the liver parenchyma with connective tissue as much as possible, and avoid the development of complications.
The most important thing in treatment is to determine the causes of liver fibrosis. If it is possible to accurately determine the causative agent and eliminate it, this will stop the degradation processes in the tissues. And over time, under favorable conditions, the liver will be able to regenerate and restore functionality of the affected areas.
Therefore, liver fibrosis treatment in Germany is primarily aimed at fighting the liver diseases that provoke its onset. For each liver disease, there are specially developed treatment tactics. So, when viral hepatitis is detected, the main task is to destroy the virus in the body; with hemochromatosis – to remove excess iron from the body; with alcohol abuse – to exclude alcohol and get rid of the consequences of its toxic effects. The liver fibrosis treatment also includes treatment with therapeutic medicines and nutrition correction.
Correctly selected liver fibrosis treatment allows effective coping with the liver disease and stops destructive processes in the liver. The choice of tactics for the liver fibrosis treatment depends on the stage of liver disease. The earlier the liver disease is detected and measures are taken, the better the treatment prognosis is.
Methods for liver fibrosis treatment in Germany
Therapy for liver fibrosis includes mainly conservative methods and detoxification therapy.
Drug therapy includes eliminating the cause of liver disease and minimizing the intensity of pathological processes. As a rule, hepatoprotectors, immunomodulators, and immunosuppressants are used. If necessary, liver fibrosis treatment with antibiotic therapy (to exclude the primary infection), treatment of alcohol dependence, obesity, normalization of blood glucose levels, stabilization of the cardiological system are possible.
In patients with liver fibrosis, diet is one of the primary prescriptions. It is necessary to draw up a balanced dietary plan, excluding all foods that complicate the work of the liver. Withdrawal of alcohol is mandatory. It may be necessary to exclude therapeutic medicines that were previously used by patients.
Another method of moderate liver fibrosis treatment is stem cell treatment. The patient's own stem cells are harvested. Their purifying and cultivation are carried out. After these, they are transplanted into the liver, where they activate restoration of liver structures.
If the liver is affected seriously, a liver transplant is performed. Such a medical intervention requires special equipment and the highest level of skill of the surgeon, therefore in many countries, it is practiced rarely. However, in German hepatology centers, such medical procedures are performed regularly, and have already become commonplace with very high efficiency though.
In some cases, surgical intervention is possible. However, the choice of the method for liver fibrosis treatment in hepatology centers is made by the doctors. Attending physicians always inform patients about the possible complications of each treatment option. Each case is considered individually and a medical tactics is developed that will allow patients to get the best result.
The cost of treatment in Germany
The cost of treatment of liver fibrosis depends on the stage of the liver disease and the treatment plan that is prescribed by the doctor according to the patient’s medical indications.
The cost of treatment with conservative therapy and diagnosis making in Germany ranges from 6,600 EUR to 9,384 EUR, where the price for diagnostics alone is about 3000 EUR.
It is possible to determine the approximate cost of treatment in Germany for each specific case. Specialists of Booking Health are able to draw up a preliminary price for medical procedures and the overall cost of treatment based on your medical information.
How to undergo liver fibrosis treatment in Germany?
If you are a patient with liver fibrosis and want to have the best doctors by your side, the right decision is to choose a liver fibrosis treatment in Germany. The best clinics in Germany successfully treat the most complex liver diseases and demonstrate excellent treatment results. Besides, in Germany, you will have an opportunity to participate in experimental liver fibrosis treatment.
Booking Health will help you find a clinic that specializes in fibrosis and relevant liver diseases. Booking Health will also take care of all organizational issues so that you can fully focus on restoring your health.
If you need any additional information about the treatment of liver fibrosis, send a request on the Booking Health website, and a medical advisor will contact you.
Authors: Dr. Nadezhda Ivanisova, Dr. Farrukh Ahmed