Actor Sana Makbul reveals she has liver cirrhosis: What caused it? Why should you get your liver tests done twice a year?
TV actor Sana Makbul, who became popular after her appearance on the reality show Bigg Boss OTT season 3 last year, has now revealed that she has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis (liver scarring) following a prolonged battle with autoimmune hepatitis. As the 32-year-old undergoes immunotherapy, this condition, which causes liver damage and inflammation, usually develops at a younger age and affects more women than men.
'Living with autoimmune hepatitis involves long-term management. Monitoring it through regular tests and strict lifestyle protocols arrest liver degeneration. A transplant may become necessary only in a worst case scenario,' says Dr Sukrit Singh Sethi, Director, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram.
This is a chronic liver disease in which the body's own infection-fighting mechanism or immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, thinking it to be the enemy, leading to inflammation. Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.
It can affect people of all ages but doctors commonly diagnose it in those between the ages of 10 and 30 and then 40 and 60. Young and middle-aged women are most prone to developing it. People with a family history of autoimmune diseases or those who already suffer from conditions like Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid disorders, are more vulnerable. It may also be triggered by certain medications or infections in genetically predisposed individuals.
Some people may have zero or very mild symptoms, others can have severe ones. Problem is some of these overlap with other diseases. But extreme fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain and joint swelling, enlarged liver and spleen because of fluid buildup, dark urine, pale stools and spider-like blood vessels in the skin are common markers. Women may report a sudden cessation of periods. Sometimes patients report rectal bleeding and vomiting blood.
If your autoimmune marker serology test — this looks at blood serum for proteins that mistakenly attack the body's own healthy cells and tissues — is positive, a liver biopsy is done. Small liver tissue samples are taken with a needle to ascertain damage.
Doctors typically prescribe immunosuppressants to prevent the immune system from attacking healthy cells and tissues. People go into remission but the condition returns too. So the patient has to undergo regular liver function tests, follow a healthy diet, avoid alcohol and liver-toxic drugs.
If autoimmune hepatitis progresses to cirrhosis, which is the permanent scarring of liver tissue, doctors focus on preventing further damage. Liver transplantation is considered if liver function declines severely.
People with a family history of autoimmune diseases or existing autoimmune conditions should be more alert to liver discomfort. I suggest routine liver health check-ups for everybody as early detection means better outcomes. Get the liver enzyme test to assess the fitness of your liver at least twice a year. For women SGPT, now called ALT, is 7-35 units/L, for men 10-40 units/L. SGOT (now AST) is 13-35 units/L for women and 15-40 units/L for men.
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Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Sana opens up about battling liver cirrhosis, says, 'My dream is to live a healthy life and keep working'
Sana Makbul reveals her battle with liver cirrhosis, stemming from an autoimmune disorder diagnosed after initial signs in 2020. Sana Makbul has opened up for the first time about battling liver cirrhosis — a chronic and irreversible condition — caused by an autoimmune disorder. She says, 'I never spoke about it earlier because I didn't want pity. But now that people have found out, if I can help someone by talking about it, why not?' Sana shares that the initial signs came in 2020 when she developed back acne. She says, 'My dermatologist asked me to get hormonal tests done, and that's when things started getting serious. Something wasn't right with my liver. We ran multiple tests and eventually, I was diagnosed with autoimmune hepatitis.' Despite her condition, the actress went on to do Khatron Ke Khiladi 11 and Bigg Boss OTT 3. 'The team was informed about my condition, and they took care of that. I wanted to lead a normal life. The nature of the disease is such that some days are tough and some are fine,' she adds. However, around four years ago, Sana found out that she was suffering from liver cirrhosis. She shares, 'My family and dear ones were shaken, and so was I. Cirrhosis is irreversible and after this, it's a transplant. But I have left it to God.' 'My dream is to live a healthy life and keep working' Sana admits that her health condition has affected her work. 'After I came out of Bigg Boss (2024), I wanted to do more work. It opened doors for me, but I had to take a pause and now my work has slowed down. However, that doesn't mean I won't work. My dream is to live a healthy life and keep working.'
News18
5 days ago
- News18
Bigg Boss Fame Sana Makbul Reveals Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis, Know All About It
Last Updated: In a recent interview, Sana Makbul revealed that her autoimmune hepatitis has worsened to liver cirrhosis. Here's all that you need to know about this condition. Actor and winner of Bigg Boss OTT 3, Sana Makbul, recently revealed that she has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The news left her fans shocked, and many took to social media to send her strength and prayers for her well-being. The actor was admitted to the hospital earlier this month when the situation worsened. In a conversation with Hindustan Times, Sana Makbul talked about being diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. The actor said, 'I've been living with autoimmune hepatitis for a while now, but recently things got worse. My immune system started attacking my liver more aggressively, and I've now been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis. But I'm trying to stay strong and taking one day at a time." Sana mentioned how she is trying to avoid a transplant and is focusing more on immunotherapy and recovery. Autoimmune hepatitis is a chronic liver condition in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy liver cells, triggering inflammation. If left untreated, this ongoing inflammation can lead to serious complications such as liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, just like in Sana's case. Cirrhosis represents the advanced stage of liver damage, where healthy tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue. This scarring occurs as the liver attempts to repair itself, but ultimately hampers its ability to function properly. According to medical experts, cirrhosis is a progressive disease – initially, the body may compensate for reduced liver activity, often masking symptoms. However, as more scar tissue builds up, liver function deteriorates significantly, eventually leading to noticeable and potentially life-threatening symptoms. What Are the Symptoms? Autoimmune hepatitis often develops gradually, and symptoms may vary in intensity. While some people may remain asymptomatic for years, others experience noticeable signs. Common symptoms include: Who Is at Risk of Autoimmune Hepatitis? Autoimmune hepatitis can affect individuals of any age or background, but certain groups are more susceptible. Women, particularly between the ages of 15 and 40, are significantly more likely to develop the condition. A family history of autoimmune disorders can elevate the risk, as can the presence of other autoimmune diseases such as type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, celiac disease, or autoimmune thyroiditis. Diagnosis: Autoimmune hepatitis is diagnosed using a combination of blood tests, imaging, and liver biopsy. Treatment Options: The main aim of treatment is to calm the immune system, reduce inflammation in the liver, and stop the disease from progressing to cirrhosis. Doctors usually start with corticosteroids to control the immune response. Sometimes, other medicines called immunosuppressants are added to help reduce side effects and keep the disease under control. In very severe cases, where the liver is badly damaged and not responding to treatment, a liver transplant may be needed. In case of cirrhosis, like Sana, doctors recommend immunotherapy, regular monitoring, and a liver transplant in extreme cases. The News18 Lifestyle section brings you the latest on health, fashion, travel, food, and culture — with wellness tips, celebrity style, travel inspiration, and recipes. Also Download the News18 App to stay updated! tags : health and fitness lifestyle liver Sana Makbul Location : Delhi, India, India First Published: June 16, 2025, 09:58 IST News lifestyle » health-and-fitness Bigg Boss Fame Sana Makbul Reveals Liver Cirrhosis Diagnosis, Know All About It
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Indian Express
Actor Sana Makbul reveals she has liver cirrhosis: What caused it? Why should you get your liver tests done twice a year?
TV actor Sana Makbul, who became popular after her appearance on the reality show Bigg Boss OTT season 3 last year, has now revealed that she has been diagnosed with liver cirrhosis (liver scarring) following a prolonged battle with autoimmune hepatitis. As the 32-year-old undergoes immunotherapy, this condition, which causes liver damage and inflammation, usually develops at a younger age and affects more women than men. 'Living with autoimmune hepatitis involves long-term management. Monitoring it through regular tests and strict lifestyle protocols arrest liver degeneration. A transplant may become necessary only in a worst case scenario,' says Dr Sukrit Singh Sethi, Director, Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Liver Transplantation, Narayana Hospital, Gurugram. This is a chronic liver disease in which the body's own infection-fighting mechanism or immune system mistakenly attacks the liver, thinking it to be the enemy, leading to inflammation. Left untreated, it can lead to serious complications like liver fibrosis or cirrhosis. It can affect people of all ages but doctors commonly diagnose it in those between the ages of 10 and 30 and then 40 and 60. Young and middle-aged women are most prone to developing it. People with a family history of autoimmune diseases or those who already suffer from conditions like Type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid disorders, are more vulnerable. It may also be triggered by certain medications or infections in genetically predisposed individuals. Some people may have zero or very mild symptoms, others can have severe ones. Problem is some of these overlap with other diseases. But extreme fatigue, yellowing of the skin and eyes, pain and joint swelling, enlarged liver and spleen because of fluid buildup, dark urine, pale stools and spider-like blood vessels in the skin are common markers. Women may report a sudden cessation of periods. Sometimes patients report rectal bleeding and vomiting blood. If your autoimmune marker serology test — this looks at blood serum for proteins that mistakenly attack the body's own healthy cells and tissues — is positive, a liver biopsy is done. Small liver tissue samples are taken with a needle to ascertain damage. Doctors typically prescribe immunosuppressants to prevent the immune system from attacking healthy cells and tissues. People go into remission but the condition returns too. So the patient has to undergo regular liver function tests, follow a healthy diet, avoid alcohol and liver-toxic drugs. If autoimmune hepatitis progresses to cirrhosis, which is the permanent scarring of liver tissue, doctors focus on preventing further damage. Liver transplantation is considered if liver function declines severely. People with a family history of autoimmune diseases or existing autoimmune conditions should be more alert to liver discomfort. I suggest routine liver health check-ups for everybody as early detection means better outcomes. Get the liver enzyme test to assess the fitness of your liver at least twice a year. For women SGPT, now called ALT, is 7-35 units/L, for men 10-40 units/L. SGOT (now AST) is 13-35 units/L for women and 15-40 units/L for men.
