Cirrhosis of the liver is a serious disease that results in permanent damage to the liver. Cirrhosis of the liver critically affects its ability to function normally. It is an ongoing, chronic disease and can lead to grave, even lethal, complications in other vital organs and body systems, such as the kidneys, immune system, brain, circulatory system and digestive system.
The liver is a vital organ, and normal functioning of the liver is crucial to health and life. In cirrhosis of the liver, an underlying disease or conditions cases scar tissue to form in the liver. This scar tissue reduces the liver's ability to do its vital job in helping the body to fight infection, stop bleeding, clear the blood of toxins, store energy, produce healthy blood, digest food and remove waste.
There are a variety of diseases and conditions that can cause cirrhosis of the liver. The most common causes include chronic hepatitis C and alcohol dependence or alcoholism. Other causes include hepatitis B, autoimmune hepatitis, and hemochromatosis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver can differ between individuals depending on such variables as stage of the disease, age, underlying cause, medical history, the presence of complications and general health. One classic symptom is the yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes. Cirrhosis of the liver can result in serious, potentially life-threatening complications, such as portal hypertension, liver failure, hemorrhage, kidney failure, and death. For more information on symptoms and complications, refer to symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver.
Making a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver includes performing a complete medical evaluation and history and physical examination. This includes questioning about alcohol use and exposure to such potential underling diseases as hepatitis. An abdominal examination may reveal a liver that is harder or larger than normal.
Diagnostic testing includes liver function tests. These are blood tests that can reveal abnormal functioning of the liver. Imaging tests that create a picture of the liver may include an ultrasound, CT, and/or a nuclear liver scan.
In some cases, a surgical procedure called a laparoscopy may also be performed. This procedure allows the physician to visualize the liver using a special lighted instrument, called a laparoscope. The laparoscope is inserted through a small incision in the abdomen and moved into place to view the liver and send pictures to a computer screen. This procedure and is minimally invasive and may include taking a small sample of liver tissue, called a biopsy, to examine for signs of scarring. A liver biopsy may also be performed by inserting a long needle through the abdomen into the liver.
It is possible that a diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver can be missed or delayed because there are generally no symptoms in the early stages and for other reasons. For more information on misdiagnosis, refer to misdiagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver.
The scarring of the liver caused by cirrhosis of the liver cannot be reversed or cured. However, patient compliance with a good treatment plan may be able to slow or stop progression of the disease and minimize complications. Treatment may include medication, lifestyle changes, and treating any underlying conditions, such as alcohol dependence or hepatitis. For more information on treatment, refer to treatment of cirrhosis of the liver. ...more »
Cirrhosis of the liver: Cirrhosis of the liver is permanent damage to the liver by scar tissue. Although alcoholic liver disease is one of the major causes of cirrhosis, it is not the only one, accounting for only about half of the cases. Cirrhosis can also be caused by numerous other diseases ranging from viral hepatitis to genetic diseases. ...more »
Most people with cirrhosis of the liver experience no symptoms in the early stages of the disease, because small amounts of scarring do not significantly affect the functioning of the liver. However, if the cause of the cirrhosis of the liver is not addressed, the disease can advance and create enough damage to the liver tissue to create symptoms.
Symptoms may ...more symptoms »
The most effective treatment plan for cirrhosis of the liver uses a multifaceted approach and varies depending on the cause of the disease. Treatment plans are individualized to best fit the patient's age, medical history, and stage of the disease. The goal of treatment is to stop or slow the progression of damage to the liver and minimize and quickly treat any complications, such as such ...more treatments »
A diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver begins with taking a thorough health history, including symptoms, and performing a physical exam that includes an abdominal exam. A diagnosis of cirrhosis of the liver may be overlooked or delayed because in its early stages there generally are no symptoms. In addition, symptoms, such as poor appetite, fatigue, weight loss ...more misdiagnosis »
See full list of 38 symptoms of Cirrhosis of the liver
See full list of 11 treatments for Cirrhosis of the liver
Home medical testing related to Cirrhosis of the liver:
Read more about Deaths and Cirrhosis of the liver.
Alternative treatments or home remedies that have been listed in various sources as possibly beneficial for Cirrhosis of the liver may include:
Test for Cirrhosis of the liver in your own home
Click for TestsRead more about tests for Cirrhosis of the liver
Review possible medical complications related to Cirrhosis of the liver:
See full list of 22 causes of Cirrhosis of the liver
More information about causes of Cirrhosis of the liver:
Research the causes of these diseases that are similar to, or related to, Cirrhosis of the liver:
Commonly undiagnosed diseases in related medical categories:
Chronic digestive conditions often misdiagnosed: When diagnosing chronic symptoms of the digestive tract, there are a variety of conditions that may be misdiagnosed. The best known, irritable bowel syndrome, is over-diagnosed,...read more »
Intestinal bacteria disorder may be hidden cause: One of the lesser known causes of diarrhea is an imbalance of bacterial in the gut, sometimes called intestinal imbalance. The...read more »
Antibiotics often causes diarrhea: The use of antibiotics are very likely to cause some level of diarrhea in patients. The reason is that antibiotics kill off not only "bad" bacteria, but can also kill the ...read more »
Food poisoning may actually be an infectious disease: Many people who come down with "stomach symptoms" like diarrhea assume that it's "something I ate" (i.e. food...read more »
Mesenteric adenitis misdiagnosed as appendicitis in children: Because appendicitis is one of the more feared conditions for a child with abdominal...read more »
Celiac disease often fails to be diagnosed cause of chronic digestive symptoms: One of the most common chronic digestive conditions is celiac disease, a malabsorption disorder with a variety of symptoms (see...read more »
Chronic liver disease often undiagnosed: One study reported that 50% of patients with a chronic liver disease remain undiagnosed by their primary physician. The reasons are multifactorial. Possible conditions include chronic hepatitis, ...read more »
Chronic digestive diseases hard to diagnose: There is an inherent difficulty in diagnosing the various types of chronic digestive diseases. Some of the better known...read more »
Read more about Misdiagnosis and Cirrhosis of the liver
Research related physicians and medical specialists:
Other doctor, physician and specialist research services:
Research quality ratings and patient safety measures for medical facilities in specialties related to Cirrhosis of the liver:
Hospital & Clinic quality ratings »
Choosing the Best Hospital: More general information, not necessarily in relation to Cirrhosis of the liver, on hospital performance and surgical care quality:
Rare types of diseases and disorders in related medical categories:
See full list of 11 latest treatments for Cirrhosis of the liver
Medical research articles related to Cirrhosis of the liver include:
Click here to find more evidence-based articles on the TRIP Database
More Cirrhosis of the liver animations & videos
More about prognosis of Cirrhosis of the liver
Visit our research pages for current research about Cirrhosis of the liver treatments.
Prevention information for Cirrhosis of the liver has been compiled from various data sources and may be inaccurate or incomplete. None of these methods guarantee prevention of Cirrhosis of the liver.
Read more about prevention of Cirrhosis of the liver
Types of Cirrhosis of the liver
Related forums and medical stories:
Read about other experiences, ask a question about Cirrhosis of the liver, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:
In cirrhosis of the liver, scar tissue replaces normal, healthy tissue, blocking the flow of blood through the organ and preventing it from working as it should. Cirrhosis is the eighth leading cause of death by disease, killing about 25,000 people each year. Also, the cost of cirrhosis in terms of human suffering, hospital costs, and lost productivity is high. (Source: excerpt from Cirrhosis of the Liver: NIDDK)
About 10 to 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Alcoholic cirrhosis can cause death if drinking continues. Although cirrhosis is not reversible, if drinking stops, one's chances of survival improve considerably. Those with cirrhosis often feel better, and the functioning of their liver may improve, if they stop drinking. Although liver transplantation may be needed as a last resort, many people with cirrhosis who abstain from alcohol may never need liver transplantation. In addition, treatment for the complications of cirrhosis is available. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA)
A chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism - (Source - WordNet 2.1)
Tools & Services:
Medical Articles:
Search Specialists by State and City
By using this site you agree to our Terms of Use. Information provided on this site is for informational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for advice from your own medical team. The information on this site is not to be used for diagnosing or treating any health concerns you may have - please contact your physician or health care professional for all your medical needs. Please see our Terms of Use.
Copyright © 2011 Health Grades Inc. All rights reserved. Last Update: 7 May, 2013 (4:34)
