Pay attention to the value of liver regeneration in the re-compensation of decompensated cirrhosis

Abstract

Conventional wisdom holds that progression from compensated cirrhosis to decompensated cirrhosis is irreversible in the natural history of the disease. However, in recent years, more and more clinical evidence suggests that liver cirrhosis can achieve re-compensation, that is, after effective etiological treatment and complication management, the liver function of partially decompensated patients with cirrhosis has improved and gradually stabilized, and decompensation no longer occurs for a long time. Liver regeneration, as one of the powerful intrinsic abilities of the liver, is the key to the restoration of the structure and complex physiological functions of the damaged liver. Studies have shown that the restoration of liver regeneration in patients with cirrhosis can promote the occurrence of re-compensation, thereby improving the prognosis of patients. At the same time, monitoring liver regeneration indicators is helpful in assessing patients' re-compensation potential for early selection of appropriate treatment options. Insufficient attention has been paid to the role of liver regeneration in the course of liver cirrhosis. Therefore, this article aims to review the value of liver regeneration in the re-compensation of decompensated cirrhosis.

Keywords: Decompensated cirrhosis; Liver regeneration; Prognosis; Re-compensation; α-fetoprotein.

Figure 1

Balance of hepatic regeneration pathways in patients with acute-on-chronic liver failure. ACLF: Acute-on-chronic liver failure; IL-6: Interleukin-6; IFN-γ: Interferon-γ.