Diseases & Conditions
Cardiology and Vascular Disease
Cardiac Cirrhosis (Congestive Hepatopathy)
Cardiac Cirrhosis (Congestive Hepatopathy)
Description
Cardiac cirrhosis is a term that refers to a group of liver disorders that occur due to heart failure, especially in the right heart chambers. Determining the prevalence of cardiac cirrhosis is challenging since it may be asymptomatic or misdiagnosed due to other forms of liver disease. In cardiac cirrhosis, the underlying heart disease is more frequently to cause death than hepatic congestion and damage. Because cardiac cirrhosis depends on the onset of decompensated heart failure, the age at which it develops is uncertain. Age increases the risk of cardiac cirrhosis. Additionally, men are more likely to have it since they are at an increased risk of developing cardiac cirrhosis and, consequently, heart failure
Symptoms
Most patients with cardiac cirrhosis do not exhibit any symptoms. the reported symptoms are due to heart failure like shortness of breath, and leg swelling.
Symptomatic patients may suffer from abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, jaundice, hepatomegaly, abdominal distention, and ascites due to liver dysfunction.
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View MoreCauses
Blood backs up from the heart into the inferior vena cava (the large vein that carries blood from the lower parts of the body to the heart) when heart failure is severe. The inferior vena cava and other blood-carrying veins, such as the hepatic veins (which drain blood from the liver), experience increased pressure because of this congestion. High enough pressure causes the liver to become engorged (congested) with blood and malfunction
Diagnostics
Liver function tests
Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
CT and MRI scans
Abdominal ultrasound
Treatment
The treatment of cardiac cirrhosis requires controlling the underlying heart disease that causes it. Your cardiologist and gastroenterologist will determine your treatment plan according to your heart disease and condition.
