Cirrhosis: What You Need To Know

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Cirrhosis: What You Need To Know

Cirrhosis is extensive scarring (fibrosis) in the liver caused by long-term damage. This damage is caused by inflammation, which is a normal response to some injuries like chronic viral infection or chronic alcoholism. The liver repairs the damaged areas by replacing them with scar tissue, which is a process similar to the way a scar develops after a cut on your arm or leg. Just as the scar tissue on your arm is different from the surrounding skin, the fibrosis in the liver is different from the surrounding healthy liver tissue. Unfortunately, since scar tissue can't function as normal hepatocytes, too much scar tissue interferes with essential liver functions.

What Causes Cirrhosis? Cirrhosis has many causes, but the most common is alcoholism and chronic hepatitis. Some of the other causes of cirrhosis are obstructed bile ducts in the liver and gallbladder, autoimmune hepatitis, and inherited diseases like 's disease or hemochromatosis.

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Why Is Cirrhosis a Problem? Cirrhosis often leads to additional health problems like ascites, edema, varices and kidney failure. About 5% of people with cirrhosis will develop liver cancer. Because liver functions are integrated into other body systems, a liver damaged by cirrhosis can also lead to effects you normally might not associate with cirrhosis. Some of them are osteoporosis, itching, bruising and bleeding.

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Does Cirrhosis Lead to a Liver Transplant? Advanced cirrhosis is one of the most common reasons to need a liver transplant. As the liver develops more and more scarring, eventually the liver will be unable to perform its essential functions and will start to shut down. This is called liver failure and for many people, a liver transplant is necessary.

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Will Cirrhosis Affect What I Eat? People with controlled cirrhosis (known as compensated cirrhosis) do not necessarily need to change what they eat. However, people with advanced cirrhosis usually need to change their diet and completely avoid alcoholic drinks. Since the liver is a major site where the body breaks down medications, a person with advanced cirrhosis must also be careful to only take physician-prescribed medicines.

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How Is Cirrhosis Diagnosed? Liver biopsy is the most accurate way to diagnose cirrhosis and to know if it has developed to an early or advanced stage. A doctor can suspect a diagnosis of cirrhosis based on blood tests or imaging with ultrasound, CT scans and MRI.

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