Menally-Ill
02-17-2003, 02:25 PM
Now, I know that these science articles are complicated for many people to read. So I will insert PLAIN ENGLISH clarifications in between the paragraphs, when it is important.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Liver Fibrosis and How is It Different from Cirrhosis?
Liver fibrosis is not an independent disease but rather a histological
change caused by liver inflammation. Liver damage causes liver stellate
cells to be over active and triggers the extra cellular matrix (ECM)
synthesis to increase. More than normal amounts of collagen fiber
deposits in the extra-cellular spaces of the liver cells and causes
the liver cells to lose blood infusion and to be hardened.
~~~~~~~
Liver inflamation causes too many cells to be created, which collect into scar tissue. These bands of scar tissue harden, thus cutting off the blood supply to parts of your liver.
~~~~~~~
Chronic viral hepatitis B and C are the most common causes of liver
fibrosis. During the chronic hepatitis course, fibrosis is a part
of the inflammation activities. In the fibrosis stage, there is no
lobular regeneration and this distinguishes it from cirrhosis.
When fibrosis advances to cause fibrostic separations (or bridging)
between the portal areas or between the portal area, the center
vein, and the formation of pseudo-lobule, fibrosis enters the final
stage, which is cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Once the bands of scar tissue get serious enough to cross the various parts of your liver, (thus "tying" them together), you have cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Histological (biopsy) diagnosis classifies the severity of fibrosis
into five stages, S0 to S4.
S0 means no fibrosis. S4 is cirrhosis. In between, S1 is a mild
fibrosis only seen at the portal area. S2 is a moderate stage of
fibrosis, between portal areas, but without the destruction of the
lobular structure. S3 is severe fibrosis. At this stage, there is
fibrostic bridging between portal areas and between portal areas
and center veins. At S4, in addition to S3's changes, there are
pseudo-lobules formed and this stage is the final stage, cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
There are four stages of fibrosis: mild, moderate, severe, then bridging. The next stage is cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Liver fibrosis is the net result of the imbalance between the
collagen fiber synthesis and decomposition. When fiber synthesis is
very active and the decomposition is suppressed, fibrosis will
progress. Vise versa, fibrosis can be reversed if the driver,
inflammation, is controlled. When fibers form, at the early stage,
it can be decomposed with water or weak acid. These are soluble
fibers. Older fibers deposited for long time, becomes thicker and
harder and cannot be decomposed by water or weak acids. Only
collagen enzymes can decompose it. With anti-fibrosis herbal
treatment, there is possibility to suppress the HSC, enhance the
activities of collagen enzymes and to promote the decomposition of
the fibers, reducing ECM.
~~~~~~~
Fibrosis, at it's earliest stages can be dissolved with water or weak acids, but older scar tissue cannot. By treating the liver to control the imflammatioon, you can reverse fibrosis.
~~~~~~~
Cirrhosis is always developed from fibrosis. Although, fibrosis and
cirrhosis are different, they are closely related. They are two
distinguished pathological conditions. At the fibrosis stages, the
amount of collagen increases and the ratio of fibro-connective
tissue verses liver cellular tissue increases. But at this stage,
the liver lobular structures are intact. There is no pseudo-lobule
formation. Cirrhosis consists of two pathological features:
fibro-connective tissue hypertrophy and pseudo-lobule formation.
At the cirrhosis stage, the liver's fundamental structure is
deformed, and the framework of the liver begins collapse. Thus,
reversal is more difficult at this stage.
Right now a liver biopsy is the most accurate way to diagnose the
fibrostic stages. Some blood chemical measurements can also provide
a referential diagnostic marker of fibrosis. The chemical markers
that can be used to assess the fibrostic activities are: HA
(hyaluronic acid), LN (Laminin), CIV(collagen IV), PCIII
(procollagen type III) etc. They can show the activities of
fibrosis, but can't classify stages of fibrosis.
~~~~~
Your fibrosis levels is best ascertained through a biopsy, but there are some blood tests that can indicate if trouble is brewing.
~~~~~~~
Patients should also know that most chronic Hepatitis cases will
not lead to Cirrhosis. Only a very small percentage does and it
happens usually without proper treatment, allowing fibrosis to go
on for years.
~~~~~~~
Fibrosis only becomes a problem if it is allowed to continue for year. This is why EARLY TREATMENT IS ESSENTIAL!
~~~~~~~
The body has amazing healing capabilities of its own and the liver
is one of the most “re-generable” organs in the body. Because
fibrosis is the result of the inflammation, halting or reversing
fibrosis by controlling inflammation is the key. Special
anti-fibrosis treatments have been developed in modern Chinese
medicine.
copyright: Dr. Qingcai Zhang
~~~~~~~
Your liver CAN HEAL! Stopping or controlling the inflammation and irritation AT THE EARLY stages is the whole key. There are ways to do this, with HERBAL fortifiers!
If ANYONE wants to know what they are, look around this forum. I have posted the BEST regimen I have found in the past. I will "tinker" with it, as we figure out if it is working for Ken.
There are also other herbals that I have NOT posted. If anyone has any interest, ASK ME!
IT IS VITAL that your doctor KNOWS what you are taking! Some other mediclal conditions you may have (such as high blood pressure) may contraindicate a particular herbal FOR YOU!
Since the ribavarin/interferon route is PHENOMENALLY EXPENSIVE, thus prohibitive for many people, the herbal remedies can become your best bet! Also, if you are in a position where you do not have access to proper medical care, herbals will "tide you over" until you can obtain it!
HERBALS will NOT cure Hep C, but they can slow down the process, and keep the little viruses from reproducing, as well as reverse, or offset some of the damage they are doing.
All My Love,
Menolly
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What is Liver Fibrosis and How is It Different from Cirrhosis?
Liver fibrosis is not an independent disease but rather a histological
change caused by liver inflammation. Liver damage causes liver stellate
cells to be over active and triggers the extra cellular matrix (ECM)
synthesis to increase. More than normal amounts of collagen fiber
deposits in the extra-cellular spaces of the liver cells and causes
the liver cells to lose blood infusion and to be hardened.
~~~~~~~
Liver inflamation causes too many cells to be created, which collect into scar tissue. These bands of scar tissue harden, thus cutting off the blood supply to parts of your liver.
~~~~~~~
Chronic viral hepatitis B and C are the most common causes of liver
fibrosis. During the chronic hepatitis course, fibrosis is a part
of the inflammation activities. In the fibrosis stage, there is no
lobular regeneration and this distinguishes it from cirrhosis.
When fibrosis advances to cause fibrostic separations (or bridging)
between the portal areas or between the portal area, the center
vein, and the formation of pseudo-lobule, fibrosis enters the final
stage, which is cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Once the bands of scar tissue get serious enough to cross the various parts of your liver, (thus "tying" them together), you have cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Histological (biopsy) diagnosis classifies the severity of fibrosis
into five stages, S0 to S4.
S0 means no fibrosis. S4 is cirrhosis. In between, S1 is a mild
fibrosis only seen at the portal area. S2 is a moderate stage of
fibrosis, between portal areas, but without the destruction of the
lobular structure. S3 is severe fibrosis. At this stage, there is
fibrostic bridging between portal areas and between portal areas
and center veins. At S4, in addition to S3's changes, there are
pseudo-lobules formed and this stage is the final stage, cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
There are four stages of fibrosis: mild, moderate, severe, then bridging. The next stage is cirrhosis.
~~~~~~~
Liver fibrosis is the net result of the imbalance between the
collagen fiber synthesis and decomposition. When fiber synthesis is
very active and the decomposition is suppressed, fibrosis will
progress. Vise versa, fibrosis can be reversed if the driver,
inflammation, is controlled. When fibers form, at the early stage,
it can be decomposed with water or weak acid. These are soluble
fibers. Older fibers deposited for long time, becomes thicker and
harder and cannot be decomposed by water or weak acids. Only
collagen enzymes can decompose it. With anti-fibrosis herbal
treatment, there is possibility to suppress the HSC, enhance the
activities of collagen enzymes and to promote the decomposition of
the fibers, reducing ECM.
~~~~~~~
Fibrosis, at it's earliest stages can be dissolved with water or weak acids, but older scar tissue cannot. By treating the liver to control the imflammatioon, you can reverse fibrosis.
~~~~~~~
Cirrhosis is always developed from fibrosis. Although, fibrosis and
cirrhosis are different, they are closely related. They are two
distinguished pathological conditions. At the fibrosis stages, the
amount of collagen increases and the ratio of fibro-connective
tissue verses liver cellular tissue increases. But at this stage,
the liver lobular structures are intact. There is no pseudo-lobule
formation. Cirrhosis consists of two pathological features:
fibro-connective tissue hypertrophy and pseudo-lobule formation.
At the cirrhosis stage, the liver's fundamental structure is
deformed, and the framework of the liver begins collapse. Thus,
reversal is more difficult at this stage.
Right now a liver biopsy is the most accurate way to diagnose the
fibrostic stages. Some blood chemical measurements can also provide
a referential diagnostic marker of fibrosis. The chemical markers
that can be used to assess the fibrostic activities are: HA
(hyaluronic acid), LN (Laminin), CIV(collagen IV), PCIII
(procollagen type III) etc. They can show the activities of
fibrosis, but can't classify stages of fibrosis.
~~~~~
Your fibrosis levels is best ascertained through a biopsy, but there are some blood tests that can indicate if trouble is brewing.
~~~~~~~
Patients should also know that most chronic Hepatitis cases will
not lead to Cirrhosis. Only a very small percentage does and it
happens usually without proper treatment, allowing fibrosis to go
on for years.
~~~~~~~
Fibrosis only becomes a problem if it is allowed to continue for year. This is why EARLY TREATMENT IS ESSENTIAL!
~~~~~~~
The body has amazing healing capabilities of its own and the liver
is one of the most “re-generable” organs in the body. Because
fibrosis is the result of the inflammation, halting or reversing
fibrosis by controlling inflammation is the key. Special
anti-fibrosis treatments have been developed in modern Chinese
medicine.
copyright: Dr. Qingcai Zhang
~~~~~~~
Your liver CAN HEAL! Stopping or controlling the inflammation and irritation AT THE EARLY stages is the whole key. There are ways to do this, with HERBAL fortifiers!
If ANYONE wants to know what they are, look around this forum. I have posted the BEST regimen I have found in the past. I will "tinker" with it, as we figure out if it is working for Ken.
There are also other herbals that I have NOT posted. If anyone has any interest, ASK ME!
IT IS VITAL that your doctor KNOWS what you are taking! Some other mediclal conditions you may have (such as high blood pressure) may contraindicate a particular herbal FOR YOU!
Since the ribavarin/interferon route is PHENOMENALLY EXPENSIVE, thus prohibitive for many people, the herbal remedies can become your best bet! Also, if you are in a position where you do not have access to proper medical care, herbals will "tide you over" until you can obtain it!
HERBALS will NOT cure Hep C, but they can slow down the process, and keep the little viruses from reproducing, as well as reverse, or offset some of the damage they are doing.
All My Love,
Menolly