Chronic liver disease is a broad term used to describe liver damage resulting from many different causes. Liver disease usually begins with inflammation of the liver, known as hepatitis, and scarring of the liver, known as fibrosis. If the condition causing the hepatitis or fibrosis remains untreated, the liver may become so scarred that it cannot properly function, a condition known as cirrhosis. Unfortunately, severe scarring of the liver cannot be reversed, explains the University of Maryland Medical Center. Instead, treatments for chronic liver disease focus on treating the conditions causing the liver damage or the complications resulting from liver failure.
Abstaining from Alcohol and Other Toxins
Alcohol abuse is one of the leading causes of liver scarring leading to chronic liver disease. If a person has severe scarring of the liver, they need to stop drinking all alcohol. In cases of alcohol dependency, doctors will usually recommend an alcoholism treatment program. Other illegal drugs are also harsh on the liver and can cause scarring, meaning a person with liver disease should avoid all illicit substances, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Antiviral Medications
Infections with hepatitis viruses, particularly hepatitis C, are another leading cause of chronic liver disease. In cases of cirrhosis caused by hepatitis C, doctors usually prescribe antiviral medications to fight the virus. One common treatment is a combination of injections of the drug interferon and oral administration of the drug ribavin, explains the Social Security Administration. In some cases, a patient may require treatments for up to one year to control the virus.
Diet
Malnutrition is often a contributing factor to cases of chronic liver disease. Doctors always recommend eating a healthy, well-balanced diet for patients with liver damage. In some cases, doctors may prescribe a liquid meal supplement to ensure proper nutrition, according to the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Other Treatments for Complications of Liver Disease
One common complication of liver disease is a buildup of excessive fluids in the body, often in the abdomen or legs. Doctors often prescribe diuretic medications to treat this condition, which encourage the kidneys to extract more water from the body for excretion as urine. Another complication is increased pressure in the veins that leave the liver. This condition is often treated with common blood pressure medications. As liver function decreases, toxins may build up in the blood, a condition called hepatic encephalopathy, which is usually treated with laxatives that clean out the intestines or other medications, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Liver Transplant
In cases of severe chronic liver disease, when the liver is completely failing, a liver transplant may be necessary. During a liver transplant, the damaged liver is removed and replaced with a whole liver from a donor that is recently deceased, or with a small portion of a liver of a living donor.
