What is liver fibrosis?

Liver fibrosis is the imbalance of the synthesis and decomposition of the collagens and extra cellular matrix (ECM) caused by liver cell inflammation and necrosis. This imbalance causes proliferation of connective tissue in the liver. In the normal liver, every gram of the liver tissue contains about 5.5 to 6.5mg of collagen; while in cirrhotic liver, it can be higher than 20mg. The connective tissue composes of cells and ECM. Cellular component mainly are hepatic stellate cells (HSC), fibroblastic cells, and mononuclear macrophages - Kupffer cells. ECM is mainly collagens, glucoprotein, and protein-polysaccharides. When the connective tissue start to proliferate in the portal area, this process is called fibrosis, which is the liver's repairing reaction to liver cell injuries and inflammation. This original function of this reaction is to preserve the wholeness and integrity of the organ structure. However, overgrowth of the connective tissue can cause the disturbance of the lobular structure of the liver and lead to the reduction the number of the liver cells and cause liver function deterioration. Biopsy has found that fibrosis exists in 62.6% patients with mild chronic hepatitis and 100% in severe chronic hepatitis (CH).

 

Information presented on this website is for educational purposes only.
Materials presented have not been evaluated by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and are not in any way a replacement or substitute for professional medical diagnosis and treatment.