Májsejtkárosodás

Májsejtkárosodás, also known as hepatocellular damage, refers to injury to the cells of the liver, called hepatocytes. This damage can occur due to a variety of factors, including viral infections like hepatitis A, B, and C, alcohol abuse, certain medications and toxins, autoimmune diseases, and genetic conditions. The severity of májsejtkárosodás can range from mild and reversible to severe and leading to chronic liver disease.

When hepatocytes are damaged, they can lose their normal function, which includes metabolizing nutrients, producing bile, detoxifying the blood, and synthesizing essential proteins. The liver has a remarkable capacity for regeneration, but if the damage is persistent or severe, this regenerative ability can be overwhelmed, leading to scarring (fibrosis) and eventually cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is an advanced stage of liver disease where the liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, significantly impairing its function.

Symptoms of májsejtkárosodás can be varied and may not appear until the damage is advanced. Early signs can include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes). As the condition progresses, more serious symptoms like swelling in the legs and abdomen, confusion, and bleeding problems may arise. Diagnosis typically involves blood tests to check liver enzymes and function, imaging studies such as ultrasound or CT scans, and sometimes a liver biopsy to assess the extent of damage. Treatment strategies depend on the underlying cause and severity of the damage, and may involve lifestyle modifications, antiviral medications, immunosuppressants, or in severe cases, liver transplantation.