Hi I wonder if someone can explain why it is possible to reverse F3 and not F 4 . I have F4 diagnosed 3 years ago. And have really changed my lifestyle and diet. I do feel well as I did before diagnosis. So after all that work will nothing have changed. All bloods are now normal. Thank you in advance Pat
cirrhosis : Hi I wonder if someone can... - Living with Fatty...
cirrhosis
Hi Pat
There is a lot of confusion about fibrosis regression. I'll give you a link to a discussion of the issue but in simple terms the collagen that forms scar tissue goes through several stages and it becomes harder to remove as time goes by. An F4 liver has a larger percentage of very tough scarring. At earlier stages more of it is removable by the bodies normal repair processes. That is one reason it is so important to diagnose the disease early as younger scar is easier to remove.
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Many know my wifes story. And She went from no fatty liver to F3 in a span of 10 months, then back down to F0/F1 over the next 9 months. For her there was Pericellular Bridging Fibrosis on the Biopsy in Oct of 2020. Keep in mind she had no Fatty liver on a CT scan when in the hospital in Jan of 2020 for COVID. During the entire time her LFT's remained normal.
The liver specialist in Nevada said the key part was on the Biopsy showing that the Liver Architecture remained intact. So even though there was swelling, and fibrosis it had not done damage to the cellular structure of the liver.
The belief was due to the rapid weight loss from Covid this had overwhelmed the liver, and her thyroid going sideways contributed. Once the weight loss was controlled, and TSH levels returned to normal. The liver returned to normal.
On her Follow up biopsy in June 2021, there was minimal fibrosis, and no bridging.
I would check with your specialist, but my understanding is if the liver architecture is retained, regression is far easier.
I have known of my Stage 4 Cirrhosis for 23 years. I have lost 70 pounds since diagnosed. My scans say I'm now a 2/3, but the biopsies still say I'm at Stage 4. Most the time I do feel better than 15 years ago, but there are still days of sever stabbing. Most the time when I do have bad days it seems to affect my heart and by the time I get to the Dr. they say I'm fine. I say it's when that part (cell) of my liver shuts down for 24 hours it affects different parts of your body, but what do I know. I just keep going and get lots of rest and try to keep stress out of my life. So in 23 years my Stage 4 has not reversed.