Cirrhosis and Liver Transplant

Cirrhosis is a term that denotes a certain stage of scarring within the liver. It does NOT equal alcoholism. In the liver, the body’s response to any form of “insult” potentially leads to inflammation and scarring. Scarring can progress over years to become cirrhosis. Cirrhosis can be there without symptoms. Cirrhosis can progress to cause profound life-altering problems and may necessitate liver transplant to be life-prolonging.

Common causes of cirrhosis in the USA include Hepatitis C infection, alcoholism and obesity.

Without any other apparent problems, in some people, fat deposited within the liver leads to sufficient inflammation as to lead to scar formation.

As always, a thoughtful history and physical exam by a gastroenterologist go a long way to determine what is going on. Tests to determine what is going on may include blood tests, ultrasound or CT scans, liver biopsy and EGD to screen for varices, a complication of cirrhosis if this is suspected.

Based in the heart of Uptown and the Garden District of New Orleans, Dr. Huilgol (”Dr. Viv”), a member of the AASLD (the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases), and the team at NOLA Gastro is committed to working with you to investigate what is going on, so you can make the correct choices for you.

Dr. Huilgol works closely with a prominent HBV expert and the leading liver transplant program in the USA. Ask me how.

GI and Liver health matters. Let’s work it out together.

Call 504-249-5901 and make an appointment…