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A Quick Guide to Understanding Fibrosis

Writer's picture: Catherine NicholasCatherine Nicholas

Ever wondered what happens when your body tries to heal a wound but ends up with thick scar tissue instead? That scar tissue is also called fibrosis. After an injury, a specialized cell called a myofibroblast has the job to come in lay down a patchwork of collagen, a tough protein, to knit your skin back together. Normally, this process leaves only a faint reminder of your accident—a little scar. But sometimes, this healing process doesn’t quite know when to stop and suddenly you’ve got too much collagen added. When the layers of scar tissue build up too much, fibrosis occurs, causing numerous problems.



What Exactly is Fibrosis, and where can it show up?

Fibrosis is the excessive buildup of connective tissue, mainly collagen, in an organ or tissue. This fibrous tissue replaces normal tissue structure, causing stiffening of the tissue and impairing the function of the affected organ. Fibrosis can be found in various parts of your body. It’s not just limited to the skin—it can affect your joints, lungs, liver, heart, kidneys, and more. For instance, pulmonary fibrosis stiffens your lungs, making it harder to breathe. Liver cirrhosis is another example where healthy liver tissue gets replaced by fibrous scar tissue, impacting its ability to detoxify your body.


What is Arthrofibrosis?

Arthrofibrosis specifically affects joints. It's when excessive scar tissue forms within a joint after an injury, overuse, or surgery. This can lead to stiffness, pain, and reduced range of motion. Imagine your knee not bending as it should after surgery and feeling very stiff—that’s arthrofibrosis acting up. About 10% of people who have had major knee surgery are affected by arthrofibrosis.


How Does Fibrosis Form?

The process starts with injury or inflammation. When tissues are damaged, the body sends in immune cells to clean up and start repairs. This is a process we call inflammation which can result in soreness, swelling, heat, redness, and loss of function to the area as the immune cells flock to the site to do their work. Normally, once this healing is complete, inflammation subsides. But in fibrosis, inflammation can linger and become chronic, triggering myofibroblasts (those collagen-producing cells) into overdrive. They keep churning out collagen, leading to stiff, scarred tissues that don’t work like they should. Reducing inflammation is key to reducing fibrosis.


What Does It Mean to Have Chronic Inflammation?

Chronic inflammation is like a fire alarm going off constantly and keeps the repair process going longer than needed. The immune cells that are recruited to an area of injury send out chemical signals (alarm bells) that communicate a need for more repair in that area. If that area is deprived of enough oxygen either through poor blood flow or the buildup of reactive oxygen species, this can also contribute to increased inflammation. This persistent inflammation signals fibroblasts to keep making collagen, leading to ongoing fibrosis. Over time, this chronic inflammation not only causes damage to tissues but also increases the risk of complications and worsens symptoms for patients. Fibrosis can sneak up slowly, often without obvious symptoms at first, which makes it tricky to catch early.


Who’s at Risk?

Anyone can develop fibrosis, and in any organ or tissue throughout the body, but some folks are more prone to it. An injury or surgery can spark fibrosis, and time spent immobilizing a joint (such as wearing a cast) can contribute to that risk. Some people may have increased genetic risk factors, but other daily habits such as intense exercise, poor sleep, increased stress, and a diet lacking essential nutrients can contribute to the risk of developing arthrofibrosis. Other lifestyle choices like smoking can lead to a higher risk of lung fibrosis due to repeated exposure to smoke. Chronic inflammation in the body that may be due to other conditions such as autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, poorly managed diabetes, obesity, or high cholesterol can significantly increase your risk of developing fibrosis.


What Can We Do About It?

Early detection is key. The sooner we spot signs of fibrosis, the better our chances of managing or slowing it down. Ways to manage fibrosis can include:

  1. Medications: Doctors might prescribe drugs to control inflammation or slow down collagen production. These can help manage symptoms and slow disease progression.

  2. Physical Therapy: For conditions like arthrofibrosis, gentle physical therapy can help maintain joint mobility, increase range of motion, and reduce stiffness.

  3. Lifestyle Changes: Improving sleep, healthy eating habits, increasing antioxidant intake, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, and avoiding environmental toxins can help reduce risks of fibrosis.

  4. Surgical Interventions: In severe cases, like end-stage liver cirrhosis or advanced lung fibrosis, organ transplantation may be necessary to restore function.

  5. Emerging Therapies: Researchers are exploring new treatments, such as anti-fibrotic drugs, aimed at halting or reversing fibrosis. These options aren’t a fit for everyone. Speak with your primary care provider about what might work for you.


Fibrosis can be a significant burden to the quality of life of patients. Understanding fibrosis and its link to inflammation is crucial to developing better treatments and, hopefully, finding a cure one day. It’s a reminder that our bodies are intricate, and sometimes they need a little extra help to heal properly.


For more in depth info on the pathogenesis of fibrosis and references, check out this review article.

 

 

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