[Liver cirrhosis--classification, etiology, pathogenesis, progress, reversibility]

Abstract

On the basis of our modern knowledge of structure and function of the liver at first the cause of the liver cirrhosis and the essential possibilities of classification are discussed. A further important problem is the question of progression and regression of the liver cirrhosis. Here special immunomechanisms play a part, the possible influences of which on a progressing of the disease are demonstrated in detail. Of particular importance are, apart from this, the influence of the virus hepatitis and the question, how many liver cirrhoses are of hepatitic genesis. Also, the importance of alcohol and the mechanisms which from an alcoholic liver damage form a cirrhosis are treated. Finally the author deals with the evidence of the diagnostics of biopsy, in which case, apart from the diagnostics, first of all the prognostic judgment of the development of the cirrhotic process is of importance.