Patient's question:
My brother is 45 years old, suffering from chronic hepatitis C and end-stage liver cirrhosis. Last year, he began showing symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy, but they were not severe. Early this month, he had a fever of 41 degrees Celsius, which then subsided, but he stopped urinating. He developed abdominal edema and exhibited symptoms of hepatic encephalopathy again, such as agitation and incoherent speech. His bilirubin level was 638, white blood cells were 22.3, creatinine was 130, and all liver function test results were very high. Do you have any solutions for treating this?Doctor's answer:
Hepatitis C has reappeared with cirrhosis of the liver, and hepatic encephalopathy has also recurred. The patient exhibits symptoms such as irritability and delirium, and in severe cases, confusion or even coma may occur, along with ascites. All of these are complications of cirrhosis. Hepatic encephalopathy is primarily caused by elevated levels of ammonia in the body, leading to impaired brain function. It can be treated through dialysis, but this is only a temporary solution. Liver transplantation is also an option for treatment. Additionally, during the treatment of cirrhosis, the patient's dietary condition and care are also very important. The patient must pay close attention to their diet and consume more light foods to avoid unnecessary harm.