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Cirrhosis
Summary
Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury or long-term disease. Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does – make protein, help fight infections, clean the blood, help digest food and store energy. Cirrhosis can lead to :
- Easy bruising or bleeding, or nosebleeds
- Swelling of the abdomen or legs
- Extra sensitivity to medicines
- High blood pressure in the vein entering the liver
- Enlarged veins called varices in the esophagus and stomach. Varices can bleed suddenly.
- Kidney failure
- Jaundice
- Severe itching
- Gallstones
A small number of people with cirrhosis get liver cancer.
Your doctor will diagnose cirrhosis with blood tests, imaging tests, or a biopsy.
Cirrhosis has many causes. In the United States, the most common causes are chronic alcoholism and hepatitis. Nothing will make the scar tissue disappear, but treating the cause can keep it from getting worse. If too much scar tissue forms, you may need to consider a liver transplant.
NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Diagnosis and Tests
- Abdominal and Pelvic CT (Computed Tomography) Radiological Society of North America
- Abdominal Ultrasound Radiological Society of North America
- Body MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) Radiological Society of North America
- Elastography National Library of Medicine
- Liver Biopsy National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Liver Function Tests National Library of Medicine
- Magnetic Resonance Cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) Radiological Society of North America
- Smooth Muscle Antibody (SMA) Test National Library of Medicine
Patient Handouts
- Abdominal tap Medical Encyclopedia
- Ascites Medical Encyclopedia
- Cirrhosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Cirrhosis – discharge Medical Encyclopedia
- Hepatic encephalopathy Medical Encyclopedia
- Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) Medical Encyclopedia
Encyclopedia
- ACE blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Alpha fetoprotein Medical Encyclopedia
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Anti-smooth muscle antibody Medical Encyclopedia
- Antimitochondrial antibody Medical Encyclopedia
- Bleeding esophageal varices Medical Encyclopedia
- Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Hepatorenal syndrome Medical Encyclopedia
- Leucine aminopeptidase – urine Medical Encyclopedia
- Leucine aminopeptidase blood test Medical Encyclopedia
- Liver biopsy Medical Encyclopedia
- Mesenteric angiography Medical Encyclopedia
- Pleural fluid analysis Medical Encyclopedia
- Portacaval shunting Medical Encyclopedia
- Primary biliary cirrhosis Medical Encyclopedia
- Protein electrophoresis – serum Medical Encyclopedia
- Total iron binding capacity Medical Encyclopedia
Related Issues
- Alcohol and Cirrhosis Department of Veterans Affairs
- Ascites: A Common Problem in People with Cirrhosis American College of Gastroenterology
- Cirrhosis and Portal Hypertension American Academy of Family Physicians
- Esophageal Varices Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and NASH National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Genetics
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
- Cryptogenic cirrhosis: MedlinePlus Genetics National Library of Medicine
Find an Expert
- American Liver Foundation American Liver Foundation
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
Start Here
- Cirrhosis National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Cirrhosis: A Patient’s Guide Department of Veterans Affairs
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Liver Cirrhosis National Institutes of Health
Living With
- Eating Tips for People with Cirrhosis Department of Veterans Affairs
Statistics and Research
- FastStats: Chronic Liver Disease and Cirrhosis National Center for Health Statistics
Treatments and Therapies
- Milk Thistle National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
- Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) Radiological Society of North America
Specifics
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Primary Biliary Cholangitis (Primary Biliary Cirrhosis) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- What Is Decompensated Cirrhosis? Department of Veterans Affairs