We know that if you cut a chunk of the liver away that it will grow back, ok, so is there any reason why a cirrhotic liver can't have a portion removed and allow that part to regenerate without fibrosis. Then after recovering, move on and remove another chunk and so on until it's all new without fibrosis.
Just a thought.
I think you cant do this because the liver regeneration is suppressed thats why it cant grow back .if you cut a slice off a healthy liver it will grow back not a chirrotic one the cells are damaged very badly . I read something like this other members may have other info im not sure .
Good afternoon,
It would be wonderful if this was possible but sadly it is not. Unless someone is in complete liver failure there will still be liver cells that are functioning to a degree but not enough to compensate for cutting a chunk of liver away. The remaining liver would not have enough active function to support life and it would not be able to regenerate in the way that a non cirrhotic liver can.
Who knows what the future may hold though, there is a lot of research going on.....
regards
This is an interesting question! I have researched this for myself, in an effort to be well informed. I am in America, and also I am not sure what may or may not apply to any individual. Please Read the following With Caution.
The simple answer is that you need at least 25% of a healthy functioning liver to regenerate it, and with cirrhosis, that isn't very likely. The reason is, cirrhosis itself is a form of scar tissue. Scars are fibrous tissues with reduced blood flow. A liver comprised of mainly scar tissue therefore has severely restricted blood flow which is key to healing. What is amazing is that the liver continues to function at all!
That is why it is so important to stop the damage in the earlier stages of fibrosis in order to facilitate a full recovery. By eliminating the cause of damage i. e. virus, toxin (for ex. alcohol), or reducing the fatty deposits that are caused by a poor diet, it is hoped that the liver will recover enough function to kick off this process. The person with cirrhosis is essentially too far gone to repair the damage. However, research into medical advances like stem cell therapy and therapeutic cloning may someday be able to eliminate transplant as the only option to full recovery of liver function. The following articles offer a look into the current state of discovery and experimentation, along with some of the ethical challenges involved.
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Thanks for that, very interesting.
Great informative post Boot. Regards Alf
Wow boot - some good research done.
PS - How many of the 500 functions that the liver performs do you think can be carried out by the 25% of the “good” liver left?
I want to say, enough of them. If you've got that much healthy liver left, and no further damage being done, supposedly the liver will regrow in time (in as little as one week to one month!) to a full sized fully functioning organ! It just won't have that lovely peanut shape. 😅
Oh that’s a shame! I think I would have been happy with a 500 function functioning liver even if it was square!
Me too, absolutely. Or a 498 function functioning liver triangle wedge. 😂
But of course 😁👍😁👍
Boot! I’m glad you know my SOH now! That second sentence was deffo me with my tongue firmly in my cheek 😁
Great post Boots 👍👍👍
A very interesting reply
I had a "chunk" of my cirrhotic liver removed by resection due to an HCC tumour. Only a small part of one lobe. I have imaging done every 6 months to check for recurrence. From what the radiographers can see, the resected area has not grown back / regenerated, but my liver has regained it's original "mass" by regrowth elsewhere. Of course the majority of it is still cirrhotic and I still have the underlying condition that caused the cirrhosis, I can't remove that from.the equation in the way alcohol, drugs or diet can be removed or improved.
Wow, that's interesting. Is the regrowth healthy or cirrhotic? Hope you are well now, in remission.
I've no idea re the condition of the different parts of the liver, I don't think the ultrasound technology is detailed enough. Though my most recent biopsy done about 4 years ago staged the damage in the sample they took as better than the damage in the sample taken about 9 years ago, but that could just be pot luck where they took tissue from. Am I well? No not really. I still have chronic HBV which caused the cancer, and I still have chronic AIH which was identified at the time of the HCC surgery. And am on pretty strong meds for both. But at least I am clear of cancer which is a massive relief.
I hope you'll continue well...! I read with attention what you wrote. Thank you for sharing
Yes, I do too and yes I did as well, and yes bollyarchive thank you!
It is a massive relief to beat cancer, nothing short of a miracle.
Keep us updated on that. I'm sure it's the way to go
Is resecting the liver to remove damaged tissue in the hope it will regrow healthy the "way to go" ? Absolutely not in my view . It's dangerous invasive surgery, I was given 50% only survival rate. The liver is a very "bloody" organ difficult to operate on. The way to go is preventing liver disease, particularly NAFLD and ALD in my view which are a major strain on the NHS.
Prevention is great but what about us lot hoping for a cure
Cirrhosis isn't a disease. It's a symptom of a disease. Liver disease.. Of which there are about 20 different liver diseases. It's the diseases that need the cure, then you don't progress to the symptoms/side effects.
I think cjam and me for sure, like a few of us here, have already got cirrhosis and are hoping somehow to reverse it and/or regrow a healthy liver. I know it may be selfish, but I was gutted to finally get the cure for my HepC, come to find out that I have cirrhosis! Too late, but better late than never. But I see your point.
There is medical evidence now that, for some, cirrhosis can be reversed. But not surgically by resecting the liver. Cirrhosis tends to spread across the liver parenchyma, connecting tissue etc. Not develop in "pockets" that could be cut out.
So when it regenerates it is more like a net over the existing scar tissue rather than like a new tip attached to the existing liver? Sorry, just trying to make sense of it.
No idea! PubMed online is a good source of peer reviewed medical journal articles. Google "PubMed" cirrhosis regeneration or something like that and see what comes up. Check article dates though, as you want the most recent data I imagine.
Hello there I was wondering what is the reason you can’t eliminate the condition you have from stopping it??? Regards josh
Hi All, I have an unusual story about liver regeneration. Not that my liver grew back, but something very similar to it.
I have stage 4 Cirrhosis, I was diagnosed January 2017, my liver is damaged but still functioning...
Ok, so here's the unusual part.... I had to have my spleen removed when I was 13. I just found out that I now have a second liver, a mirrored of my first liver, only it has now taken the empty space where my spleen use to be.
I don't understand it and baffled along with my hematologist who was the one to find it after a CT scan. He thinks it's a medical miracle... Lol
Maybe it is.... My liver specialist doesn't know about it yet, I will see him next week for my 3 month follow-up appointment. So I am curious what he will say about this new surprise.
The strange thing is it wasn't there when I was first diagnosed and I'm not really sure when or how it grew. I remember always having pain on my left side under my rib cage, the pain so bad at times I I would go to the ER thinking I bruised a rib or something and no one picked up on....
Has this happened to anyone else or has anyone ever heard of such a thing??????
Thanks in advance.....
HI Teri. That's really strange. I haven't heard of anyone having 2 livers. I will have to look it up. There have been cases where people have had some cells of a twin growing inside them and also cases of an extra womb or kidney and even an odd tooth found growing in a strange place. I wonder if the second liver was already there in a small form and then the removal of the spleen allowed it space to develop. Is it actually functioning as a liver would? It would be great if people with liver disease could actually just grow a new one naturally with no medical interference but I think we're a long way off that one, but who knows! I expect that the liver specialists will be very interested in your case. Keep us all informed. All the best. Alf.
Very interested freddy...
Hi Alfredthegreat, thanks for the quick response.... Yes, your right, there have been strange cases that are unexplained and have baffled doctors, and I suppose anything is possible...
I honestly don't know if it is functioning as a normal liver but Im sure my hepatologist will be just as curious and want to find out more....
I will definitely keep you informed after my appointment next week with my hepatologist.
Thanks again and best wishes
Can't find much info on the subject other than yes, other people have had 2 livers. No real information about size or function of the second liver, but it is extremely rare. Regards Alf
Thanks Alf for all the information, I couldn't find anything, so it's nice to know I'm not alone ....
Looking back over the blood doctors notes from the CT Scan, the new liver measured the same as my liver?! It's all so strange and baffling...
Thanks again XO
That's amazing. Can't wait to find out more about it. Definitely keep us all informed. You may become a celeb! 
Lol... A celebrity, huh??!! Yeah maybe.. I definitely will let you know the outcome of it all!!
That's amazing! The body never ceases to amaze eh 😀👍. Do please keep us updated as to what your hepatologist think and says.
I definitely want to know what your hepatologist says. What are doing as far as treatment/diet, anything we can all try? 😁
Bootandall.... Honestly there's no special treatment, I take all my meds as prescribed which have helped me manage the cirrhosis, my numbers are finally coming down, still elevated but compared to what they once were they gave definitely improved....
As for diet... My diet is not good! Lol.. I try but I have to be honest I love my pasta!! Lol... I'm on Prednisone, which is a steroid and makes me eat and crave foods, since January 2017 I have gained 40 pounds!! I'm miserable! Lol but they are starting to taper me, slowly...
My gastroenterologist did once tell me when I was being diagnosed that all my anadomy is not where it should be... Maybe that explains why.
Thanks for the concern and I will keep you all updated! X
Wouldn't it be great though if your new grown liver was functioning properly and as it has been growing it has been helping bring those result numbers down?
Terry!
I identify with you!!!!!!
Please see my reply on NUTRITION.
I love my food and I have learned to eat but to eat things that I LIKE and are healthy for the liver.
Please read about cooling the pasta in the fridge and then re-heat it. It is called RESISTANT STARCH I think...It doesn't have the high picks in sugar...
or/and cook a lot of veggies in you sauce and reduce the amount of pasta...
Hi Teri, I know you posted a while ago but I came upon this post again & wondered what your consultant had said about this. I find this 'second liver' fascinating!
Teri1755 - amazing - does it share a blood supply with your 'original' liver?
Hi, I think that the cirrhotic liver tissue becomes scarred and cannot regenerate like healthy tissue.
Regards
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