2017-07-26

Can liver damage and fibrotic liver tissues be reversed after hepatitis C treatment?

Chronic hepatitis C is a slow and progressive disease that causes liver inflammation, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Over a long period of time, hepatitis virus can cause long term damage that is often thought to be irreversible. But recent research is suggesting otherwise, that fibrotic or cirrhotic liver is reversible, allowing patients to regain liver function and improve health.

The danger of cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is end stage liver fibrosis, it is a complication of many liver diseases characterised by abnormal structure and function of the liver (scar tissue). Cirrhosis also means limited liver function, where many critical functions are affected, including the production of substances required by the body, and removal of toxic substances that can be harmful to the body, such as drugs. The liver also has an important role in regulating the supply of sugar and fat that the body uses as fuel.

There are two stages of cirrhosis: compensated cirrhosis in which the liver still functions, and decompensated cirrhosis in which the liver shuts down. Life threatening risks of cirrhosis include ascites, renal failure, hepatic encephalopathy, viatical bleeding and liver cancer.

Reversing liver cirrhosis

For many years cirrhosis was thought to be irreversible, but recent studies have confirmed that if you have fibrosis - or even cirrhosis - and are treated and cured of hep C, the development of fibrosis will stop, and fibrosis will be reversed in the majority of patients. Liver damage reversal is possible even when cirrhosis has developed. A recent review of multiple studies found that 53 percent of patients who were cured of hep C had regression of cirrhosis. [1]

Another study on YHK liver therapy that looks at patients with fibrosis over a short period of time during their use of YHK has similar findings. The fibrosis score of people who were treated with YHK has significantly decreased, some even achieved a score that indicates no fibrosis, meaning normal liver function was regained. [2][3]

Post treatment care, prevent aggressive liver cancer

Hep C can now be cured by oral medications in as little as eight weeks with few side effects. However, after DAA treatment, patients still face an increased risk of aggressive liver cancer. This is why the need for post treatment recovery of liver function is essential, especially for patients with cirrhosis. In addition, many hep C patients who were cured are still feeling unwell as their body is under recovery, therefore post treatment liver protection and reversing cirrhosis is the key to complete recovery. [4]

Reversing cirrhosis not only helps you to regain liver function but also protect your liver by limiting the risks of liver cancer.

Reference:

Disclaimer:

* All research and clinical data should be used as reference purposes only, results may vary.

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