Nearly 1.5 million deaths related to liver cirrhosis occurred in 2019. This is nearly 2.4 percent of the global death population. The rate has significantly increased by 8.1 percent since 52,000 new cases were detected in 2017.
More than 4.5 million US adults above the age of 18 years are diagnosed with liver cirrhosis.
Enlargement of the spleen, high pressure, and jaundice are some threatening symptoms of this disease that cause pain and damage the internal organs.
Chronic liver cirrhosis increases the mortality rate in the US. Over 33,000 deaths are recorded annually in the US due to this type of disease.
Evaluating the numbers, it is evident that significant medical interventions are required to treat this type of condition. The existing treatment model for liver cirrhosis is scarcely accessible and poses a threat to the patient’s life quality. Moreover, the treatment options are very expensive. Additionally, there is a shortage of donor organs for addressing liver issues.
Stem cell therapy has emerged as a medical miracle in the world of conventional healthcare. The benefits and properties of stem cells can heal various types of diseases.
In this blog, we will explore the treatment results and unique properties of regenerative medicine for liver cirrhosis patients.
What is Liver Cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis of the liver is a long-term chronic disease when healthy liver tissues are scarred and limits the functions of the liver. Scarring of the tissues is called fibrosis.
Furthermore, liver cirrhosis increases the chance of strokes by 2.1 percent every year.When the liver is damaged by infections or alcohol abuse, it tries to repair itself and scar tissues form in this process. Cirrhosis causes more scar tissue and the advanced stage of this disease imposes life risks.
At the final stage, this disease is irreversible. However, early diagnosis of liver cirrhosis can prevent further progression of the condition. Moreover, it can be reversed with appropriate treatment.
Liver transplantation is the only treatment to improve the survival rate of cirrhosis patients. However, access to treatment is limited due to a low supply of organ resources. Furthermore, other complications of this type of treatment include the rejection of the organ after the transplantation. Moreover, transplantation requires surgery that is painful and has high costs. Additionally, success for this type of treatment is not guaranteed.
The common complications related to the disease include hepatocyte necrosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. Chronic liver pain and difficulties related to cirrhosis significantly degrade the quality of life. It prevents a patient from eating properly. Moreover, it reduces the functions of the liver therefore directly impacting digestion. This may also introduce bowel syndromes.
Causes
The causes of liver failure due to cirrhosis are vast. Some of the reasons are –
- Alcohol consumption for long-term
- Infections due to hepatitis B, C, and D viruses
- Fat accumulation in the liver (non-alcoholic reasons)
- A build-up of iron in the body or Hemochromatosis
- The immune system attacks the liver due to autoimmune hepatitis
- Primary biliary cholangitis that destroys the bile ducts
- Primary sclerosing cholangitis that causes scarring of the bile ducts
- Accumulation of excessive copper in the liver
- Cystic fibrosis is a genetical disorder that prevents chloride transmission from the cell surfaces
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency affects individuals between the age of 20-50 years
- A digestive disorder known as Alagille syndrome
- Medications such as isoniazid
- Inherited disorders that hamper sugar metabolism
Obesity, alcohol abuse, and viral hepatitis infections are other leading causes of liver cirrhosis.
Symptoms of Cirrhosis
Sometimes the symptoms of this disease do not surface until the damage to the liver is severe. Symptoms of the disease are –
- Fatigue
- Easy injuries and bleeding
- Appetite loss
- Swelling of the feet and legs due to edema
- Unprecedented loss of weight
- Loss of sexual drive for men
- Missed out menstrual cycles in women
- Redness in the palm of the hands
- Spider-shaped blood vessels appear on the skin
- Pale fingernails
- Ascites or fluid accumulation in the abdomen
- Itchiness on the skin
The causes and symptoms of liver cirrhosis vary from one individual to the other depending on the severity and stage of liver failure.
Complications
Liver complications due to cirrhosis include –
- Portal hypertension or high blood pressure within the veins reduces the blood supply to the liver.
- White blood cells and platelets are trapped within the spleen due to portal hypertension. A significant reduction in the volume of WBCs and platelets in the blood is one of the primary signs of liver cirrhosis.
- When blood is redirected into smaller veins due to portal hypertension, the small veins are unable to take the pressure of blood flow. In such instances, the veins rupture and cause internal bleeding. The reduced capabilities of the liver prevent the clotting of this bleeding and pose an immense life threat.
- Cirrhosis of the liver makes it difficult for the body to process nutrients and causes weight loss leading to malnutrition and weakness.
- Cirrhosis limits the abilities of the liver and prevents the elimination of toxins from the blood. The toxins build up in the brain causing hepatic encephalopathy that could lead to coma.
- Reduced nutrient absorption, weight loss, and cirrhosis increase the risk of brittle bones and bone diseases.
- Many patients with liver cirrhosis have entered the last stage of liver failure and are suffering from cancer.
Stem Cell Properties to Cure Liver Cirrhosis
Human umbilical cord tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells have cell differentiation and multiplication abilities. This means they can transform into new liver cells to improve the functions of the organ.
Additionally, MSCs have immunomodulatory, antifibrotic, anti-inflammatory, proangiogenic, and antioxidative stress properties that assist in the regeneration of damaged liver cells and tissues.
Mesenchymal stem cells sourced from Wharton’s Jelly produce inhibitory cytokines and promote the formation of regulatory T cells. Additionally, stem cell therapy is highly effective in managing the immune response of the body in cases of tissue injuries.
Furthermore, MSCs prevent the activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and induce HSC apoptosis. It is achieved through the secretion of interleukin 10 and tumor necrosis factors.
HUCT-MSCs regenerate hepatocytes. It improves the site of inflammatory and fibrotic hepatic. When there is an expansion of functional hepatocytes it naturally improves the ability of the liver to degenerate due to cirrhosis.
MSCs introduce immune cells that secrete matrix metalloproteinases to reverse the degradation of extracellular matrix. HUCT-MSCs protect the liver and prevent the ferroptosis of the hepatocytes by decreasing the intracellular reactive oxygen species.
Several patients with liver damage were clinically treated with stem cell therapy in 2013. The results of the treatment highlighted therapeutic effects, safety, and positive results in reversing the conditions of the patients. It improves liver functions. This significantly reduces the mortality and morbidity rates.
Benefits of Stem Cell Therapy for Liver Patients
Stem cells have surfaced as a therapeutic intervention for treating liver diseases. Here are the treatment benefits –
- Promotes the regulatory T cell activities to reduce inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract
- Improves immune responses through T and B cell activity suppression
- Reproduces damaged hepatocytes
- Enhances the functions of the liver
- Replaces the fibrotic tissues
- Reduces scarring of liver tissues
- Fights the hepatitis viruses and stops infections related to the disease
- Prevents cell death
- Boosts paracrine actions
The benefits of the treatment vary from one patient to another. The severity of the patient’s condition, their age, height, weight, and the required volume of stem cells affect the outcome of the treatment. Additionally, all these factors play a crucial role in determining stem cell treatment costs.
Takeaway
Stem cell therapy is a minimally invasive treatment compared to expensive liver transplantation. Moreover, mesenchymal stem cells are readily available for treatment compared to scarce donor organs. Additionally, the safety issues related to surgeries arise more complications in case of transplantation. For example, there is no guarantee that a patient’s body will accept a liver transplant. However, the success rate for stem cells in reversing and preventing the effects of liver cirrhosis is high.
The Life Altering Stem Cell Therapy Institute in Mexico is American-owned. Our doctors are equipped with the latest tools and technologies for treating liver diseases. This therapy not only offers long-term relief but also prevents the fibrosis in the liver that causes cirrhosis. Once the stem cells are administered, significant progress is witnessed in the patient’s condition.
Do not let liver problems hinder the quality of your life and lead to serious life-threatening diseases. Talk to us today and let us help create an ideal treatment plan for your liver disease.
