Fibrosis paralyze organs

Propagation of connective tissue can restrict organ function

02/12/2015

Fibrosis refers to the proliferation of connective tissue in tissues and organs, which normally fulfills a biological purpose within the healing process. Takes the production of the „repair tissue“ however, overcrowded, cicatricial indurations develop, which in the advanced stage lead to a restriction of the respective organ function. Accordingly, experts advise, for example, chronic inflammations or infections at any time to take seriously, in order to detect possible changes in time.

Hardening can occur as a symptom of various underlying diseases
At a so-called „fibrosis“ is an organ or tissue hardening due to a new formation of connective tissue fibers. However, this hardening is not an independent disease, but rather a symptom underlying various underlying diseases. „A fibrosis is a process that occurs in many diseases and the organs changed so that they can not work properly, "said Professor Ulrich R. Fölsch, Secretary General of the German Society of Internal Medicine (DGIM) to the news agency „dpa“.

Inflammation and circulatory disorders as possible causes
Fibrosis can be caused by a variety of causes such as inflammation, high blood pressure, allergies, circulatory disorders or wear processes that cause chronic damage to the tissue. As a result, the body replaces the damaged tissue with collagen, the main component of the connective and supporting tissue, which is known as „putty“ between cells („fibrosis“). If the proportion of connective tissue in the affected organ or tissue increases, however, this leads to a hardening („sclerosis“) and concomitantly to a restriction of the respective function.

Pneumonia can lead to pulmonary fibrosis
Fibrosis may generally include all tissues or organs such as e.g. Liver, kidney, lung or pancreas, as well as the skin, eyes or bone marrow. Accordingly, for example, chronic hepatitis C can lead to fibrosis of the liver or pneumonia (by bacteria, viruses, etc.) to pulmonary fibrosis (pulmonary fibrosis). „Also, the heart failure in old age is a consequence of the exhaustion of the muscle and fibrotic processes, "explains Professor Fölsch „scleroderma“ which is mainly characterized by a thickened, rigid and then shrinking skin. The skin loses its elasticity, as a result it is above all on fingers and hands to mobility limitations, typical also include joint inflammation and dysphagia.

Organ fibrosis is so far no term for many people
Even diseases such as arteriosclerosis would, according to Fölsch one „fibrotic process“ and, with a few exceptions, liver cancer: „A bronchial or hepatocellular carcinoma is at the end of the iceberg that peeks out the top. This usually includes fibrosis as the basis, "says Professor Christian Trautwein of the Aachen University Hospital „dpa“. Nevertheless, organ fibrosis has not been known to many people until now, because the diseases are usually named differently in the jargon. Accordingly, for example, kidney damage due to diabetes mellitus, this would not as renal fibrosis, but as „diabetic nephropathy“ designated.

Injury until the „Point of no return“ in principle reversible
However, according to Professor Christian Trautwein, the diseased increase in connective tissue is in principle reversible: „That's the beauty: the system is plastic. If one removes the alcohol as a chronic stimulus in the liver, the scarring back, "said the expert to the dpa. However, as soon as the so-called „Point of no return“ is reached, the injury proceeds irreversibly. As a result, the scars remain, causing the affected organs gradually lose their functionality and an organ transplantation is usually the last treatment option. However, according to Professor Christian Kurts of the Institute for Experimental Immunology of the University Hospital Bonn, this should change in the future, because „a major goal of our research is to find out which molecules are involved in which form of fibrosis, "the expert said." Immune mechanisms and inflammatory processes are central to most fibrotic diseases“, adds Kurt.

Patients should be better informed about possible consequences
Accordingly, according to Christian Trautwein a manipulation of „axis“ possibly bring success between connective tissue and inflammatory cells. The aim of the researchers from Bonn and Aachen is therefore now to inhibit the excess collagen production, but at the same time were the inflammatory cells as „Anheizer“ of collagen production in the interest of science: „But one can not say that there is a mechanism, and if you inhibit that, it works for all types of fibrosis, "explains Kurt." However, the problem with regard to possible therapeutic methods is that the regeneration of connective tissue has a biological meaning : „These are actually healing processes. "If you inhibit those with medication, you take a lot of side effects," he continues, adding that there is currently a focus on prevention and that GPs are urged to educate their patients accordingly. „Chronic inflammation should not be taken lightly ", warns Fölsch. (Nr)