Questions Questions !!

[bevcol]

Morning everyone. I am an information gatherer type of person, so I hope I dont drive everyone nuts by the asking.! has anyone heard of coeliac hepatitis? my gastroconsultant says that because I was non compliant, this could be the cause of my cirrhosis. I am still waiting on my liver biopsy, but have been referred to Birminham to have it there. from what ive gathered, if it was the cause then it is pretty much reversible, yet ive got cirrhosis, which isnt. Consultant not the most informative or easy person to talk to, or understand for that matter.

second ask , have any of you heard about liver cirrhosis improvement following splenectomy? my last scan showed enlarged liver, sludgy and thickened bile duct, and enlarged spllen. there is a lot of research out there saying removal of spleen can improve things in. Goingto ask this when I get my first appointment in Birmingham , but thought Id throw it open to everyone here as well.

lots of love, you are the most amazing people

Bev

[AyrshireK]

Just found this article amongst many others on line - clear link between poorly controlled Coeliac Disease and liver damage. verywellhealth.com/celiac-d... clear links between poorly controlled coeliac disease, fatty liver, coeliac hepatitis and even links with Auto Immune Hepatitis and Primary Biliary Cholangitis.

The coeliac hepatitis bit can be remedied (perhaps) by better control of the coeliac and this might slow the worsening of the cirrhosis but it won't now completely cure the liver of the cirrhosis.

As regards your second question of splenectomy - other countries do seem to do this or partial splenic embolization as a means of treating cirrhosis but it doesn't seem to be a common thing here.

Having said that my hubby underwent splenic artery embolization after they found several aneurysms during his liver transplant assessment in 2014. At the time his spleen measured 19.5 cm and his platelet count had been recorded as 20 (requiring platelet transfusion for liver biopsy which had to be done via transjugular for safety). He had portal hypertension and they were banding varices every 5-8 weeks (42 in total over 2 years). They decided he was borderline for transplant listing but would do so after the aneurysms were dealt with so he had urgent surgery - embolization of the splenic artery. We didn't know this at the time but the result of this surgery was that he 'suffered' a partial splenic infarction - the blood supply to his spleen was reduced and the spleen died off. On scans now his spleen is shown as 9cm.

Following the operation he was listed for transplant but over the coming 10 months his blood results all improved, his portal veinous flow normalized, his platelet count was recorded as 200 (some years ago now) and he has required no further banding since 2014. He was delisted from the transplant list in 2015. Ok, he still isn't 100% well but certainly has none of the major symptoms from his cirrhosis & he is 5 years on and no where near transplant needy.

The infarction wasn't without pain - in fact it was literally agony in his abdomen and left shoulder for some months and he was prescribed tramadol (& morphine whilst in hospital) though he later managed with just Paracetemol and rest.

His spleen is now deemed non-viable so he has to take Phenoxymethylpenicillin daily to support the immune function of this spleen.

It's worth reading up about and asking the question because there are several studies into this type of liver supporting operation but as I said I don't think it is very common here in the UK.

All the best for your care at Birmingham - they are top notch for auto-immune related liver conditions and their top boffins support the UK AIH support group greatly.

Katie