THE ROLE OF THE GUT-LIVER AXIS IN LIVER CIRRHOSIS PATHOGENESIS AND COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Background. Liver cirrhosis is a severe disease that can provoke hepatocellular carcinoma. It is known that such patients have increased intestinal permeability causing the translocation of living bacteria and bacterial products through the inferior vena cava system into the liver, that leads to a cascade of immune and molecular events. Objective – to establish the role of the gut-liver axis in the pathogenesis and outcomes of liver cirrhosis. Material and methods. We performed a PubMed search of publications over the last 10 years, using the keywords ‘intestinal permeability’, ‘cirrhosis’. Results. Increased intestinal permeability and bacterial translocation are of great importance in the development of liver cirrhosis. In turn, the progression of the disease further enhances the transfer of bacteria from the intestine into the inferior vena cava system. The severity of this process is proportional to the stage of cirrhosis and correlates with the prognosis of the disease. Conclusion. Increased intestinal permeability, altered gut microbiota and bacterial translocation contribute to liver damage and fbrosis up to the development of liver cirrhosis and its complications. Further research is required to determine if modulation of the gut microbiota can affect the course of liver disease.