Cirrhosis is a progressive condition where scar tissue gradually replaces healthy liver cells. In time, this can affect liver function and lead to symptoms like nausea, fatigue, and unintentional weight loss.
Cirrhosis is a progressive disease that develops over time. As scar tissue builds up, it can affect blood flow through the liver, leading to liver dysfunction.
Various factors can lead to liver damage and cirrhosis, such as:
- viral infections
- alcohol consumption
- toxins, including medications
- hereditary and genetic conditions
- some autoimmune diseases
- metabolic syndrome, including obesity, which leads to widespread inflammation
This article examines why cirrhosis occurs, how to recognize it, and the treatments, complications, and outlook.
With early cirrhosis, there are often no symptoms. But, as scar tissue accumulates, it undermines the liver’s ability to function properly.
A person may notice:
- fatigue
- nausea
- loss of appetite
- weight loss and loss of muscle mass
- patches of small, red blood vessels on the upper trunk and the palms of the hands
As the disease progresses, they
- swelling in the legs and abdomen due to a buildup of fluid
- an enlarged spleen
- infections
- confusion
- jaundice, where the whites of the eyes take on a yellow tinge
- dark-colored urine
- tarry stools
- itching
- internal bleeding
- low sex drive
In time, fibrous scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue. Regenerative nodules may also form. These are lumps that appear as the liver tries to heal the damage.
There is no cure for cirrhosis, but diagnosis and treatment can help to limit progression and prevent liver decompensation. This is when cirrhosis progresses to a point where the liver cannot carry out all of its basic processes.
Lifestyle changes
if a person has a diagnosis of cirrhosis, they will need to protect their liver,
- avoiding raw or undercooked meat and shellfish, which increase the risk of an infection
- avoiding alcohol consumption
- limiting the intake of salt and fats
- using diet and exercise to manage body weight, if appropriate
It is important to check with a dietician and physician before making large diet changes. They will be able to assess an individual’s circumstances and decide upon the best course of action.
Treating underlying causes
Some treatment options will depend on the underlying cause.
For example:
- Alcohol-related liver disease: A doctor will recommend taking no alcohol. In some cases, they may recommend a special treatment program for people with alcohol dependency.
- Hepatitis B or C: For viral hepatitis, a doctor will prescribe antiviral medications.
- Non-alcoholic-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD): Lifestyle changes, such as a change in diet, may help manage NAFLD.
Treatment for symptoms
The person may also need treatment for symptoms of cirrhosis, such as:
- Portal hypertension: Medication can reduce high blood pressure in the portal vein, which supplies the liver with blood.
- Esophageal varices: Swollen blood vessels can burst, causing bleeding to appear in vomit or stools. This needs urgent medical attention. Various strategies can help stem the bleeding.
- Infections: Antibiotics can treat bacterial infections.
- Hepatic encephalopathy: Medications can help manage high toxin levels in the blood.
Screening
A doctor may also recommend screening for liver cancer, as the risk is higher among people with cirrhosis. People living with cirrhosis may need regular blood tests and imaging scans.
Liver transplant
Widespread scarring may be irreversible. In these cases, the person may need a liver transplant. It can take time to find a suitable donor, and this procedure is often a last resort.
Doctors grade cirrhosis in various ways, such as the
Using scores from various tests, it puts the liver into one of three categories:
- A: The liver is working well.
- B: There is moderate damage.
- C: Damage is advanced or severe.
The score helps give an idea of the person’s outlook. Category C, or end-stage liver disease, is potentially fatal.
Cirrhosis can also be either compensated or decompensated.
With compensated cirrhosis, the liver can function effectively despite the damage. People with compensated cirrhosis often have no symptoms.
With decompensated cirrhosis, the liver cannot function effectively, and symptoms may be noticeable.
Common causes of cirrhosis are:
- hepatitis, a viral infection
- long-term high alcohol consumption
- non-alcohol-related steatosis, a type of fatty liver disease
- exposure to toxins
- genetic diseases
Hepatitis
Globally, hepatitis B and C are the
Vaccines can protect against hepatitis B but not hepatitis C.
In autoimmune hepatitis, the person has an autoimmune disease. In this type of disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. Sometimes, an autoimmune disease can affect the liver, leading to hepatitis and cirrhosis.
Alcohol-related fatty liver disease
The liver breaks down toxins, including alcohol. But, if toxin levels are too high, the liver will be unable to process them effectively, and damage to liver cells will result.
There are
- Alcohol-related fatty liver or steatosis: Small fat droplets accumulate in the liver.
- Alcohol-related hepatitis: There is inflammation in the liver cells, causing swelling. At this stage, stopping alcohol consumption may repair the liver.
- Cirrhosis: Irreversible damage can lead to potentially life threatening complications.
People who consume 30–50 grams (g) of alcohol per day for 5 years have a risk of alcohol-related liver disease. Males who consume more than 21 units per week and females who consume more than 14 units per week are at risk of steatosis due to alcohol consumption. A medium glass of wine is typically 2.3 units, while a bottle of beer is typically 1.7 units.
Non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease
Doctors diagnose non-alcohol-related fatty liver disease (NAFLD) when fat accumulates in
NAFLD included non-alcohol-related fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcohol-related steatosis (NASH). In NAFL, there are fatty deposits. In NASH, inflammation and cell damage are also present.
NAFLD is more likely to affect people with:
- metabolic syndrome, including obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure
- polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
- genetic conditions, such as Wilson’s disease, when copper accumulates in the liver and other parts of the body
- conditions involving a nutritional imbalance, such as kwashiorkor
Learn more about the differences between NAFL, NAFLD, and NASH here.
Other conditions
Other diseases and conditions that can contribute to cirrhosis include:
- cystic fibrosis
- primary sclerosing cholangitis, or hardening and scarring of the bile ducts
- galactosemia, or inability to process sugars in milk
- schistosomiasis, a parasitic disease
- biliary atresia, which affects the formation of bile ducts before birth
- glycogen storage disease, when the body has problems storing and releasing the energy release that is vital for cell function
- hemochromatosis, when iron accumulates in the liver and other parts of the body
- Budd-Chiari syndrome, when blood clots in the hepatic vein lead to liver enlargement and the development of new blood vessels
- cancer of the bile ducts or pancreas, which can lead to blockages in the bile ducts
Symptoms rarely appear in the early stages, so diagnosis often occurs when testing for another condition or disease.
If a doctor suspects cirrhosis,
- carry out a physical examination, including checking for swelling in the upper abdomen
- ask the person about their personal and family medical history
- ask about their lifestyle, including dietary habits and alcohol consumption
They may also recommend the following tests:
- blood tests to check liver function
- imaging tests such as an ultrasound, CT, or MRI scan to look for signs of enlargement, scarring, or nodules
- a biopsy, which takes a tissue sample for testing in a laboratory
Cirrhosis
- gastrointestinal system
- blood and cardiovascular system
- kidneys
- lungs
- skin and nails
- hormones
It can lead to several other conditions, some of which are life threatening.
- Ascites or edema: Ascites is a buildup of fluid in the abdomen, and edema is a buildup of fluid in the legs.
- Varices and portal hypertension: Large, swollen veins develop in the esophagus and stomach, pressuring a blood vessel called the portal vein, leading to portal hypertension.
- Hepatic encephalopathy: This refers to high levels of toxins in the blood where the liver can no longer filter them effectively.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma: This is the most common type of liver cancer and can result from cirrhosis due to hepatitis B or C infection.
- Hepatopulmonary syndrome: Hepatopulmonary syndrome (HPS) refers to a combination of liver disease, blood vessel dilation in the lungs, and problems with gaseous exchanges in the lungs.
- Coagulation disorders: Cirrhosis can cause problems with blood clotting, leading to bleeds and clots that can sometimes be fatal.
There is no cure for cirrhosis, and it can be life threatening.
How long a person will survive with cirrhosis depends on various factors, including:
- the cause
- the severity of the scarring
- their age and overall health
- how they treat the condition
As the disease progresses, the prognosis worsens. People with compensated cirrhosis, when the liver can still function, have a
People who consumed alcohol before their diagnosis and then quit have a
In the United States,
Cirrhosis is not always avoidable, but some tips can help lower the risk:
- Follow a varied diet that is low in processed foods and added fats.
- Keep within the recommended
guidelines for the consumption of alcohol. - Use diet and exercise to maintain a suitable weight and avoid obesity.
- Use a condom during sex to lower the risk of hepatitis.
- Never share needles and take care when dealing with blood.
- Avoid alcohol if any stage of liver disease is present.
- Ask about vaccinations for hepatitis B if you are at risk.
Here are some answers to questions people often ask about cirrhosis.
What are the stages of cirrhosis?
There are different ways to describe the progression of cirrhosis. The
In this system:
- Stage A: The liver is working well.
- Stage B: There some impact on liver function.
- Stage C: Liver function is severely affected.
Doctors also
Can a person survive cirrhosis?
The outlook will depend on various factors, including the cause of cirrhosis and the stage at diagnosis.
A person who receives a diagnosis in the early stage can continue to live a healthy life, but they may need to take measures, such as avoiding alcohol and maintaining a suitable weight. Once cirrhosis starts to affect liver function, the impact on a person’s outlook becomes more severe.
What are the early warning signs of cirrhosis?
Often, a person will not notice any symptoms until a later stage, when cirrhosis begins to affect liver function.
As it progresses, cirrhosis can cause a wide range of symptoms, including fatigue, nausea, low appetite, jaundice, swelling, and itchy skin.
Cirrhosis results when tissue damage causes scarring in the liver. Possible causes include a hepatitis infection, high consumption of alcohol, some genetic conditions, and inflammation that occurs with obesity and metabolic disorder.
In the early stages, damage is present and scarring start to appear, but the liver continues to function. In time, scarring becomes widespread. Eventually, the liver is unable to function.
Some ways of reducing the risk include limiting alcohol consumption, maintaining a moderate body weight, and taking measures to prevent infection with hepatitis B and C.
For people with early-stage cirrhosis, lifestyle changes — such as avoiding alcohol consumption, protecting against infection, and managing body weight — can improve their outlook.
When cirrhosis starts to affect liver function, it can become life threatening. For this reason, it is best to take measures to prevent cirrhosis where possible.