- Related Topics:
- human disease
- liver
- Laënnec cirrhosis
- On the Web:
- NHS inform - Cirrhosis (Oct. 25, 2026)
cirrhosis
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What is cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis is an irreversible change to the liver where normal liver tissue degenerates and is replaced with fibrous connective tissue, resulting in scarring of the liver.
Several factors can cause cirrhosis, including chronic alcohol consumption, viral infections such as hepatitis B or C, genetic disorders like Wilson disease, and conditions like cystic fibrosis and hemochromatosis.
Symptoms of cirrhosis include jaundice, increased bleeding, changes in the skin, fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity, confusion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and weakness. Treatment includes abstaining from alcohol, medication, and managing the complications of the disease.
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What part of the body does cirrhosis affect?
Cirrhosis is a condition affecting the liver, where normal liver tissue is replaced by fibrous connective tissue, impairing liver cell function. This irreversible change results from the degeneration of functioning liver cells. While cirrhosis has several causes, the term applies when liver scarring is the end result.
Excessive alcohol consumption, viral infections (such as hepatitis B or C), and certain genetic disorders can cause cirrhosis. Regardless of the cause, the complications are usually the same. Treatment focuses on managing the underlying cause to halt the disease's progression.2 Britannica SourcesCreated from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles. -
What are some common causes of cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis, the scarring of liver tissue, arises from various factors. Chronic alcohol consumption is a primary cause in the Western world. Viral infections, especially hepatitis B and C, represent another significant cause, particularly in underdeveloped countries. Certain genetic disorders like Wilson disease, hemochromatosis, cystic fibrosis, and alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency can also lead to cirrhosis. Additionally, conditions such as primary biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune disease affecting bile ducts, and secondary biliary cirrhosis, resulting from bile duct obstruction or infection, contribute to the development of cirrhosis.
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What are symptoms that someone with cirrhosis might have?
Cirrhosis, the scarring of liver tissue, can manifest with a range of symptoms. In early stages, there may be no noticeable symptoms. As the disease progresses, common symptoms include:
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- Increased bleeding
- Skin changes like spider-like vascular lesions
- Reddening of the palms
- Breast enlargement in males
- Testicular size reduction in males
- Fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) and ankles
- Confusion (hepatic encephalopathy)
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle mass reduction
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal pain and general weakness
The symptoms arise from the liver's impaired ability to function properly and from circulatory changes caused by the cirrhotic liver.
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How can doctors diagnose cirrhosis?
Doctors can diagnose cirrhosis through physical examinations and lab tests. A diagnosis of cirrhosis is confirmed through blood tests that reveal reduced levels of serum albumin and elevated levels of bilirubin. Elevated levels of serum iron or copper can support a diagnosis of hemochromatosis or Wilson disease, respectively. A liver biopsy is a valuable diagnostic test because it makes available an actual specimen of liver tissue for microscopic examination. Techniques such as CAT (computerized axial tomography), MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), ultrasound, and nuclear radioisotope scanning have greatly assisted in determining the size of the liver, the presence or absence of cirrhosis, and the presence or absence of benign or malignant neoplasms.
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What treatments or lifestyle changes can help people with cirrhosis?
Cirrhosis, the irreversible scarring of liver tissue, can be managed through various treatments and lifestyle adjustments. Abstaining from alcohol is crucial for those with alcohol-related cirrhosis. An adequate diet is also important in the early stages.
For cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis or Wilson disease, medications are available. Treatment focuses on managing the underlying causes to halt the disease's progression. Although a completely normal liver cannot be restored, further damage can be prevented.
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cirrhosis, irreversible change in the normal liver tissue that results in the degeneration of functioning liver cells and their replacement with fibrous connective tissue. Cirrhosis can have a number of causes; the term is applied whenever the end result is scarring of the liver.
Laënnec, or portal, cirrhosis is primarily caused by excessive and chronic alcohol consumption. The relationship between alcohol and cirrhosis is unquestioned, but the mechanism of injury remains unknown. Besides cirrhosis, the affected person may show jaundice, gastrointestinal bleeding, and kidney failure.
In the early stage of cirrhosis, the disease can be stabilized by abstention from alcohol and by an adequate diet. In this stage, the liver first enlarges; its outer capsule becomes smooth and stretched, and its colour turns yellow because of an increase in fat. Fibrous tissue and extra bile ducts may develop. In the next stage, the quantity of fibrous tissue increases so that the liver is granular. The blood vessels thicken, and their channels may become obstructed, which reduces blood flow in the organ. Complications at this stage include coma, kidney failure, jaundice, infection, and hemorrhages. In the advanced stage of the disease, the liver shrinks and the surface usually has a roughened appearance. The normal lobular structure of the liver is lost; there is no longer fat but only poorly functioning residual liver tissue.
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There are several other causes of cirrhosis besides alcohol consumption. Cirrhosis can result from viral infection, especially after infection by hepatitis B or C, glycogen storage diseases, cystic fibrosis, alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency, and obesity can also cause cirrhosis. In hemochromatosis an increased amount of iron is absorbed by the body and deposited in the liver cells. The liver becomes granular and nodular, and the iron particles may be so dense as to impair liver cell function. In Wilson disease, a hereditary condition, there is excess copper in the liver. The liver usually turns green from bile in the tissue, and enlargement, fibrosis, fat changes, and abscesses occur when the disease is chronic.
The final complications of cirrhosis are usually the same no matter what the cause. High blood pressure in the portal vein can lead to hemorrhages in the esophagus and stomach; or the imbalance in blood chemicals from malfunctioning of the liver can affect the brain and cause hepatic coma. Hepatic coma usually starts with drowsiness and confusion and culminates in loss of consciousness. Jaundice may complicate any stage of cirrhosis. Edema—fluid retention in the tissues—and ascites, an accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity that results in abdominal swelling, also are commonly seen.
Treatment of cirrhosis depends on the cause. Liver damage caused by portal cirrhosis can be halted by abstention from alcohol. Cirrhosis resulting from hepatitis infection or Wilson disease is treated with medication.