Cirrhosis Support Group

Hi, SockFuzz. My understanding is that while the liver is still fibrotic and not yet cirrhotic, regeneration is more likely. If the illness is due to active Hep C, the virus attacks the liver daily, and can do all kinds of other organ damage as well as mutate.

My GI told me while I was still cirrhotic phase that if they could kill the virus, there was a good chance my liver would regenerate.

He says now that I'm at "decompensated" cirrhosis it's less likely that it can regenerate and I'm beyond anything they can do to kill the virus anyway (tried it all) ... this is all according to my GI and he's a very positive doctor who supports any ideas for improvement.

In fact I was on Hep C treatment when I became decompensated ... and they immediately took me off. My GI says they would never try virus treatment again for me as it's too risky.

If anyone has had better results, I too, would like to know about it. Regeneration sounds like a really really good thing to believe in!!!

Also ... anyone who has Hep C from IV drug use is less likely to be helped from (the virus) treatment ... because so many have had it for 20 years before being diagnozed ... by then it's caused all kinds of damage. I don't know if this is different than alcoholic cirrhosis or other kinds of cirrhosis ... perhaps it is a factor, perhaps not.

This is sad.

I just happen to stumble upon this BBC article which came out about three years ago. It's titled "Drug May Reverse Liver Disease".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5382172.stm

This article states, "Scientists had thought that the scarring associated with cirrhosis - known as fibrosis - was irreversible. However, recent studies have shown that is not the case."

This compelling article about Sulfasalazine which is a drug currently used to treat arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease was shown help in the regeneration of animal livers by "by blocking the production of proteins that keep the scar tissue cells alive."

The research team said that they planned to conduct clincal trials on humans. Can't wait to read a developments that have occurred since this study came out. This information is, of course, very encouraging news.

If protein keeps scar tissue alive, re: sulfasalizine, should more protein be added to the diet?

They still have not proved that sulfasalazine works, it is kind of a controversial subject as there are studies which shows it actually harms the liver.