Fibrotic is an adjective that refers to the state or condition of having fibrosis. Fibrosis is a pathological process that involves the formation of excessive fibrous connective tissue within an organ or tissue as a response to injury, inflammation, or chronic disease.
In a fibrotic state, there is an abnormal accumulation of collagen fibers in the affected organ or tissue. This excessive collagen deposition leads to scarring and stiffening, impairing the normal function of the affected area. Fibrosis can occur in various organs, including the liver, lungs, heart, kidneys, and skin.
The development of fibrosis typically involves a series of complex cellular and molecular events, including the activation of fibroblasts which are responsible for producing collagen fibers. Persistent or chronic injury or inflammation can trigger the fibrotic process, resulting in the progressive replacement of normal tissue with dense, fibrous scar tissue.
Clinical manifestations of fibrotic conditions vary depending on the organ involved. For example, in pulmonary fibrosis, patients may experience shortness of breath, a dry cough, and decreased lung capacity. Liver fibrosis can lead to cirrhosis and impaired liver function, while cardiac fibrosis may cause heart failure.
Fibrotic conditions can be challenging to treat, as the scar tissue is often irreversible. Therapeutic approaches may aim to slow down or halt the progression of fibrosis, alleviate symptoms, manage underlying conditions, or in some cases, a liver or lung transplant may be considered as a last-resort treatment.
