Chronic Liver Disease Treatment in Indore

What is Cirrhosis of the Liver?

The liver is the largest internal organ in the body and is located in the upper right part of the abdomen. It filters the blood, makes bile to help digest fat, makes proteins like albumin and clotting factors, stores energy, and breaks down medicines and toxins. Repeated injury to the liver causes it to repair itself with scar tissue over years. This scarring ultimately leads to cirrhosis, a condition where normal liver tissue is replaced by hard fibrous bands and nodules, and the structure of the organ is distorted.

A cirrhotic liver cannot filter blood or make proteins as well as a healthy one, and blood flow through it is obstructed, increasing pressure in the portal vein (portal hypertension). Scarring is not reversible but in the early stages controlling the cause can stop or even improve the damage partially and good care can prevent serious complications.

Dr.  Kriti Bansal is experienced liver disease specialist in Indore, helps cirrhosis patients understand their stage, preserve their remaining liver function and prevent emergencies like bleeding and infection. Liver cirrhosis treatment in Indore is aimed at treating the cause, preventing complications and protecting nutrition.
Cirrhosis, compensated and decompensated
Doctors talk about two general phases. In compensated cirrhosis, the liver is still doing its main jobs and a person may have no symptoms for years. The condition is discovered by chance during a test for another purpose. Complications of decompensated cirrhosis include ascites (fluid in the abdomen), jaundice, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy (confusion), and kidney problems. Decompensation is a change toward a more severe phase, where the focus shifts to managing complications and considering liver transplantation.

Symptoms of Cirrhosis of Liver

Early cirrhosis usually has no symptoms. Usually features appear with evolution of the disease.

• Fatigue and weakness: Another common early complaint, along with loss of appetite and weight.
• Jaundice: Yellowing of eyes and skin; dark urine and light stools.
• Swelling of abdomen and legs: Due to ascites and fluid retention
• Easy bruising and bleeding: You get nosebleeds, bleeding gums and bruises because clotting proteins fall.
• Itching: Constant itching is due to the accumulation of bile salts under the skin.
• Vomiting blood and black stools: Bleeding varices or ulcers. This is an emergency.
• Confusion and reversal of sleep: Daytime sleepiness and nighttime wakefulness, forgetfulness, personality change and tremor of the hands suggest hepatic encephalopathy.
• Muscle wasting: Loss of muscle mass especially in the arms, legs and temples.
• Skin and hormone signs: Spider blood vessels, red palms, enlarged breasts in men, shrunken testes and irregular periods.

Causes of Cirrhosis of Liver

Many conditions that injure the liver over years can cause cirrhosis.

• Alcohol-related liver disease: Heavy drinking over a long period of time is a major cause, and the risk increases with the amount and duration.
• Chronic hepatitis B and C: Viral infections that can smolder for decades can cause cirrhosis.
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease: This fast-growing cause is associated with obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.
• Autoimmune hepatitis: The immune system attacks cells in the liver. Diseases of the bile ducts: The bile ducts are damaged in primary biliary cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis.
• Genetic and metabolic disorders: Wilson’s disease, haemochromatosis and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency.
• Obstruction of blood flow: Chronic heart failure or obstruction of hepatic vein.
• Medicines and toxins: Certain drugs and herbal remedies can cause long-term damage.
• Cryptogenic cirrhosis: No cause can be identified in some patients. 

Understand Your Risk Factors

Diabetes, waist measurement above recommended levels, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, family history of liver disease, blood transfusion before screening was introduced, tattoos or piercings with unsterile equipment, dental or surgical procedures in unreliable settings and regular alcohol intake all increase the risk of liver problems. People in these groups should be screened regularly even if they feel well. Pregnant women are routinely tested for hepatitis B, so that their babies can be vaccinated and protected.

Diagnosis of Chronic Liver Disease

The assessment tries to answer three questions: what is the cause, what is the damage and what are the risks. Interpret blood tests, ultrasound and elastography together and not in isolation by a CLD specialist in Indore.

• Liver function tests: ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, bilirubin, albumin and INR indicate the type of injury and the performance of the liver.
• Viral markers: HBsAg, anti-HCV and, if needed, HBV DNA and HCV RNA.
• Autoimmune & metabolic tests: ANA, anti smooth muscle antibodies, immunoglobulins, ceruloplasmin, iron studies, lipid profile, sugar and HbA1c.
• Ultrasound: Shows liver size, texture, fat, spleen size and fluid.
• Elastography (FibroScan): No needle. Measures how stiff the liver is to find scarring and fat content to find steatosis.
• Fibrosis scores: FIB-4 and APRI, derived from routine blood results, are used to screen for scarring.
• Upper endoscopy: If cirrhosis suspected to check for varices
• Liver biopsy: If diagnosis is uncertain or tests do not agree.

Treatment and Management of Chronic Liver Disease

Treatment is directed at the cause and at decreasing the likelihood of progression.

Fatty liver: 

Losing 7 to 10 percent of your body weight can reduce liver fat, inflammation and even fibrosis. The key is regular physical activity, a diet that restricts sugar, refined flour, fried food and sweetened drinks and control of diabetes, cholesterol and blood pressure. Some diabetes and obesity medications and vitamin E are used in selected patients, and new drugs have been developed for steatohepatitis with fibrosis.

Hepatitis B;

Some carriers don’t require treatment. That depends on the viral load and liver enzymes and scarring. If needed, antiviral tablets like tenofovir or entecavir control the virus, and often they are taken for years. “Test family members and vaccinate.

Hepatitis C

For the vast majority of patients, the virus is cleared with eight to twelve weeks of oral direct-acting antiviral tablets. A blood test months later confirms it is gone.

Alcohol-related disease

Total abstinence is the primary treatment. Counseling, support groups and the use of medicines to reduce craving or withdrawal symptoms increase the chance of remaining sober. Nutrition support is also important.

Autoimmune and cholestatic disease

Autoimmune hepatitis is treated with steroids and azathioprine. Primary biliary cholangitis is treated with ursodeoxycholic acid and additional medicines if required.

Supportive therapies

Care includes vaccination against hepatitis A and B, review of all medicines and supplements, treatment of itching, nutrition support and screening of the esophagus for varices if scarring is extensive.

Monitoring Schedule

The frequency of visits depends on the stage of the disease. Mild fatty liver may require review every six to twelve months with blood tests and an elastography scan every one to two years. Patients with significant fibrosis are watched more closely and if cirrhosis is present, an ultrasound every six months for liver cancer and periodic endoscopy are added. Keeping a personal record of blood reports, weight and medicines helps you compare changes over time. Management of chronic liver disease In Indore is a long term process and the frequency of review is based on the stage of the disease.

Daily habits to help your liver

Eat a variety of healthy foods including vegetables, fruit, wholegrain foods, pulses and lean protein. Limit your intake of sugary drinks, baked goods, and deep-fried snacks. Get at least 150 minutes of walking or other exercise a week, plus strength training twice a week. Keep a healthy weight Get seven to eight hours of sleep Avoid alcohol if you have liver injury Stop tobacco Take medicines only as prescribed Coffee (in moderation, and without excess sugar) has been linked to better liver outcomes in several studies. See your doctor before you start any supplement, protein powder or herbal tonic.

Daily Habits That Support the Liver

Liver function tests are often misunderstood because the name suggests they test how well the liver is functioning, when in fact several of them test injury.

Understanding Your Liver Test Report

ALT (SGPT) and AST (SGOT) are enzymes released from damaged liver cells and increase with inflammation. If AST is higher than ALT, especially if GGT is raised, alcohol is suggested. ALP and GGT go up when bile ducts are blocked or inflamed . Bilirubin is a measure of how well the bile is being cleared. High levels cause yellow eyes . Albumin and INR are true markers for liver’s manufacturing capacity and they drop or rise when the liver is failing. There are also elastography and fibrosis scores that are used with blood tests as someone can have normal enzymes and still have a lot of scarring.

Fatty Liver in Lean People, Women and Young Adults

Fatty liver is no longer the problem of just the overweight older person. Many Indians, even with a normal body mass index, store fat around the abdomen and organs and are referred to as metabolically obese. Young professionals who work long hours, lead sedentary lifestyles, eat irregularly and drink a lot of sugary drinks and takeaway food are turning up with fatty livers on routine scans with increasing frequency. Women with polycystic ovary syndrome are at a higher risk. Even obese children can be affected. In the early diagnosis there is a great possibility to change habits and prevent progression, because the liver reacts fast to a reduced intake of calories and regular movement.

Hepatitis B and C: Screening, Family Protection and Pregnancy

Anyone who has had a previous blood transfusion before reliable screening, surgery or dental work in countries where screening is unreliable, dialysis, or has a family member with hepatitis should consider testing. The test is just a simple blood test. If hepatitis B is diagnosed, household members and sexual partners should be tested and vaccinated if not already immune. Babies of mothers with hepatitis B receive the vaccine and sometimes immunoglobulin within hours of birth, and most of them are protected. If you have a high viral load, your doctor might recommend you take antiviral medication while pregnant. Hepatitis C is not usually spread by casual contact and can be cured with treatment, but can be re-infected if exposure continues.

Warning Signs That Need Prompt Attention

• Yellowing of the eyes or skin: If it happens suddenly or is accompanied by dark urine and pale stools.
• Vomiting blood or black stools: These may be a sign of bleeding from varices.
• Abdominal swelling (rapid swelling) with weight gain, shortness of breath or pain.
• Confusion or day-night reversal: This shows that toxins are affecting the brain.
• Abdominal pain with fever: May indicate an infection in the abdominal fluid.
• Little urine: Your kidneys may be under stress.

Why Choose Dr. Kriti Bansal

Dr. Kriti Bansal stresses the importance of catching liver disease before it causes symptoms. She uses non-invasive tests to measure scarring and fat so many patients don’t need a liver biopsy.

Her management plans are practical and lifestyle based, with specific targets for weight, sugar control and follow-up intervals, so patients know what progress looks like. She also counsels families on screening and vaccination when hepatitis is found.

If you are looking for a chronic liver disease doctor in Indore, she provides evaluation of abnormal liver tests, long-term monitoring and coordinated care for complications when the disease progresses.

Book a Consultation in Indore

Phone: +91 7610102710

Email: drkritigastro@gmail.com