Cirrhosisis a late-stage liver disease in which there is significant scarring (fibrosis) of the liver. It can bring with it a range of complications, from easy bruising or bleeding to a buildup of toxins in the brain, to potentially fatal conditions such askidney failureandliver cancer.
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In fact, more than a million people throughout the world die from complications of cirrhosis each year. Forty thousand of those fatalities occur in the United States, making cirrhosis the 11th leading cause of death in the country, according to theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention.
The signs of liver disease aren’t always obvious, though. The early stages can last for years or even decades. During this time, the spread of fibrosis might not bring on any noticeable symptoms. By the time symptoms and/or complications are recognized, liver damage has most likely already progressed to cirrhosis.
How Cirrhosis Develops
Less common causes of cirrhosis include obstructed bile ducts of the liver and gallbladder, autoimmune hepatitis, and hereditary conditions such asWilson’s disease(a buildup of copper in the liver) orhemochromatosis(a buildup of iron in the liver).
Important Functions of the Liver
Complications of Cirrhosis
Although a healthy liver is able to repair itself, the damage is often too extensive once it becomes cirrhotic. Widespread scarring inhibits blood flow to the liver, which in turn compromises its primary functions.
These normal functions include processing nutrients from food, makingbile, building proteins, and removing toxins such asbilirubin(the reddish-brown compound that results from the breakdown of red blood cells) from the blood.
It’s easy to see how serious complications, includingliver failure, can develop as a result of cirrhosis.
Summary
Cirrhosis of the liver causes extensive scarring and inflammation that can lead to moderate to very serious complications. When caught early and with effective treatment, the chances of slowing the progression of the disease are greater. This can help extend life-expectancy after diagnosis.
Regularly visiting with your medical team to review how your condition is progressing is important. This allows for adjustments to your treatment plan, as well as early identification, intervention and treatment of any complications that may arise.
A Word From Verywell
Cirrhosis and the accompanying fibrosis causes significant damage to the liver. Without proper treatment, the scarring and damage will worsen and can quickly lead to various complications, such as easy bruising and bleeding, gallstones, or liver cancer.
Frequently Asked Questions
Specifically, lesions from gastroesophageal varices are formed. This happens due to decreased blood flow to the liver, causing the veins in the esophagus, stomach, and rectum to become enlarged. As the elevated pressure continues to expand the veins, the vein walls become stretched too thin and they can rupture, causing potentially life-threatening bleeding.
Learn MoreBleeding From Esophageal Varices: Causes and More
Currently, there is no cure for cirrhosis. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications that may arise, ultimately slowing its progression. Successful treatment may be able to slowly heal some liver scarring (fibrosis).Doctors will look for and treat the underlying problem that led to cirrhosis to help prevent it from getting worse. Part of treatment to slow cirrhosis often includes avoiding things that could continue to damage the liver, such as certain medications, alcohol, and meals high in fat.Learn MoreWhat to Eat When You Have Cirrhosis
Currently, there is no cure for cirrhosis. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications that may arise, ultimately slowing its progression. Successful treatment may be able to slowly heal some liver scarring (fibrosis).Doctors will look for and treat the underlying problem that led to cirrhosis to help prevent it from getting worse. Part of treatment to slow cirrhosis often includes avoiding things that could continue to damage the liver, such as certain medications, alcohol, and meals high in fat.
Currently, there is no cure for cirrhosis. However, there are ways to manage the symptoms and any complications that may arise, ultimately slowing its progression. Successful treatment may be able to slowly heal some liver scarring (fibrosis).
Doctors will look for and treat the underlying problem that led to cirrhosis to help prevent it from getting worse. Part of treatment to slow cirrhosis often includes avoiding things that could continue to damage the liver, such as certain medications, alcohol, and meals high in fat.
Learn MoreWhat to Eat When You Have Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis itself is not hereditary (passed from parent to child). However, there are some inherited diseases that can cause liver damage and lead to cirrhosis.These include hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha 1-antiprotease (antitrypsin) deficiency, and cystic fibrosis.Learn MoreCirrhosis: Symptoms, Causes and More
Cirrhosis itself is not hereditary (passed from parent to child). However, there are some inherited diseases that can cause liver damage and lead to cirrhosis.These include hemochromatosis, Wilson’s disease, alpha 1-antiprotease (antitrypsin) deficiency, and cystic fibrosis.
Learn MoreCirrhosis: Symptoms, Causes and More
8 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.Nusrat S, Khan MS, Fazili J, Madhoun MF.Cirrhosis and its complications: evidence based treatment.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(18):5442–5460. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5442American College of Gastroenterology.Ascites: a common problem in people with cirrhosis.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhotic ascites.Cremers I, Ribeiro S.Management of variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2014;7(5):206-216. doi:10.1177/1756283X14538688American Liver Foundation.The progression of liver disease.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhosis of the liver.Zarrilli F, Elce A, Scorza M, Giordano S, Amato F, Castaldo G.An update on laboratory diagnosis of liver inherited diseases.Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:697940. doi:10.1155/2013/697940
8 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.Nusrat S, Khan MS, Fazili J, Madhoun MF.Cirrhosis and its complications: evidence based treatment.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(18):5442–5460. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5442American College of Gastroenterology.Ascites: a common problem in people with cirrhosis.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhotic ascites.Cremers I, Ribeiro S.Management of variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2014;7(5):206-216. doi:10.1177/1756283X14538688American Liver Foundation.The progression of liver disease.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhosis of the liver.Zarrilli F, Elce A, Scorza M, Giordano S, Amato F, Castaldo G.An update on laboratory diagnosis of liver inherited diseases.Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:697940. doi:10.1155/2013/697940
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.Nusrat S, Khan MS, Fazili J, Madhoun MF.Cirrhosis and its complications: evidence based treatment.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(18):5442–5460. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5442American College of Gastroenterology.Ascites: a common problem in people with cirrhosis.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhotic ascites.Cremers I, Ribeiro S.Management of variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2014;7(5):206-216. doi:10.1177/1756283X14538688American Liver Foundation.The progression of liver disease.Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhosis of the liver.Zarrilli F, Elce A, Scorza M, Giordano S, Amato F, Castaldo G.An update on laboratory diagnosis of liver inherited diseases.Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:697940. doi:10.1155/2013/697940
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis.
Nusrat S, Khan MS, Fazili J, Madhoun MF.Cirrhosis and its complications: evidence based treatment.World J Gastroenterol.2014;20(18):5442–5460. doi:10.3748/wjg.v20.i18.5442
American College of Gastroenterology.Ascites: a common problem in people with cirrhosis.
Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhotic ascites.
Cremers I, Ribeiro S.Management of variceal and nonvariceal upper gastrointestinal bleeding in patients with cirrhosis.Therap Adv Gastroenterol. 2014;7(5):206-216. doi:10.1177/1756283X14538688
American Liver Foundation.The progression of liver disease.
Cleveland Clinic.Cirrhosis of the liver.
Zarrilli F, Elce A, Scorza M, Giordano S, Amato F, Castaldo G.An update on laboratory diagnosis of liver inherited diseases.Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:697940. doi:10.1155/2013/697940
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