How long can a person with early-stage liver cirrhosis live with antiviral treatment?
Disease description:
A friend is 60 years old and has recently been undergoing antiviral treatment for early-stage liver cirrhosis, but remains concerned about how this might affect lifespan. How long can someone with early-stage cirrhosis live when receiving antiviral treatment?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Zhou Chao
Early-stage cirrhosis may allow a life expectancy of around 20 years, but this depends on individual immune resistance and the severity of the condition. Antiviral treatment can prevent the progression of cirrhosis, potentially enabling a normal lifespan. The likelihood of developing liver cancer is relatively low at this stage—only a few per thousand. However, if cirrhosis does develop, the risk of liver cancer increases progressively. The probability of developing liver cancer is directly related to factors such as hepatitis B history, age, duration of cirrhosis, and whether antiviral treatment has been administered.
