The Liver has a large functional reserve
WHAT TO DO WHEN GIVEN A DIAGNOSIS OF LIVER CIRRHOSIS The liver is such an important organ that more than a forth of blood supply gets to it per circulation phase. Its function is not in doubt when it comes to compartibility with life. It has a group of cells that regenerate whenever damaged. The damage can however, sometimes be more than the liver can repair. This then leads to "scarring", in what is described as cirrhosis. Even when cirrhosis has occured, there remains some attempts at regeneration - responsible for the nodules that develop and hence give the cirrhotic liver a nodular appearance. Some of these regenerating cells continue to provide the functions of the liver. It is only when the liver functional reserve has been destroyed to less than 25% that the impact of cirrhosis is felt clinically. Even then, this is subtle. Some people therefore, think that the absence of symptoms means that the diagnosis of their cirrhosis is in error. The impo...