My dad age 55 suffering from cirrhosis, portal hypertension and ascites plz tell me more abt this? -

Cirrhosis is a chronic degenerative disease in which normal liver cells are damaged and are then replaced by scar tissue.Cirrhosis changes the structure of the liver and the blood vessels that nourish it. The disease reduces the liver s ability to manufacture proteins and process hormones, nutrients, medications, and poisons. Most of the liver s supply of blood comes from the intestinal veins as the blood returns to the heart. The main vein that returns blood from the intestines is called the portal vein. As the portal vein passes through the liver, it breaks up into increasingly smaller and smaller veins. The tiniest veins (called sinusoids because of their unique structure) are in close contact with the liver cells. In fact, the liver cells line up along the length of the sinusoids. This close relationship between the liver cells and blood from the portal vein allows the liver cells to remove and add substances to the blood. If blood can’t flow easily through the liver because of cirrhosis, the blood gets slowed down in this vein and the pressure inside the vein increases. This higher blood pressure in the portal vein is called portal hypertension. The most common cause of portal hypertension is cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis results from the healing of a liver injury caused by hepatitis, alcohol abuse, or other causes of liver damage. In cirrhosis, the scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver and slows its processing functions. Portal hypertension may also be caused by thrombosis, or clotting in the portal vein. As far as the ascites, this is defined as an abnormal accumulation of fluid in the abdomen. Cirrhosis, is responsible for 80% of all instances of ascities in the United States. As cirrhosis of the liver becomes severe, signals are sent to the kidneys to retain salt and water in the body. The excess salt and water first accumulates in the tissue beneath the skin causing edema.Fluid also may accumulate in the abdominal cavity between the abdominal wall and the abdominal organs. This accumulation of fluid (called ascites) causes swelling of the abdomen, abdominal discomfort, and increased weight.

Your Dad s conditions are all related to disease of the liver. Cirrhosis is when the normal healthy liver tissue is replaced by non-functional scar tissue, There are many reason why this could happen. When the Liver tissue becomes scarred, it will raise the pressure of the vessels which carry blood through the liver, This is called Portal Hypertension, this can lead to swelling especially of the lower extremities, it also leads to Ascites. Ascites is swelling (fluid collection) in the abdomen. This is seen when the liver is failing. It can be removed by needle or possibly with the use of medication to help him remove fluids. I m not sure what other information you are looking for, but I hope that this is a start for you.

Unfortunately, the portal hypertension amp; ascites means that your dad s liver is very, very sick. He probably either had hepatitis or alcoholism which badly damaged his liver.