## Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosis of the liver is an advanced stage of scarring (fibrosis) of the liver caused by chronic liver damage. It occurs when normal liver tissue is replaced with scar tissue, making it difficult for the liver to function properly.
### Symptoms
Symptoms of cirrhosis may not appear until later stages, when the liver is extensively damaged. They can include:
* Fatigue and weakness
* Loss of appetite and weight
* Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain
* Swelling in the legs and feet (edema)
* Easy bruising or bleeding
* Yellowing of the skin and eyes (jaundice)
* Itchy skin
* Confusion and difficulty concentrating
### Diagnosis
Diagnosing cirrhosis involves:
* Physical examination
* Liver biopsy (tissue sample for microscopic examination)
* Ultrasound or elastography (imaging tests to assess liver structure)
* Liver function tests (blood tests to check liver enzyme levels)
### Treatment
There is no cure for cirrhosis, but treatment focuses on managing complications and preventing further damage to the liver. This may include:
* **Medications:** Diuretics for fluid accumulation, laxatives for constipation, antibiotics for infections
* **Liver transplantation:** Surgery to replace the damaged liver with a healthy one
* **Lifestyle modifications:** Alcohol abstinence, weight loss, healthy diet
### Prevention
Preventing cirrhosis involves limiting factors that can damage the liver, including:
* **Alcohol abuse:** Excessive alcohol consumption is a major cause of cirrhosis
* **Hepatitis B and C infections:** Vaccination and safe sex practices can protect against these viruses
* **Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD):** Maintaining a healthy weight and limiting unhealthy fats can reduce the risk of NAFLD, which can lead to cirrhosis
### Complications
Cirrhosis can lead to several complications, including:
* **Ascites:** Fluid accumulation in the abdomen
* **Hepatic encephalopathy:** Brain damage due to liver failure
* **Portal hypertension:** Increased pressure in the portal vein, leading to varices
* **Varices:** Swollen blood vessels in the esophagus or stomach that can bleed
* **Jaundice:** Yellowing of the skin and eyes due to bilirubin buildup
* **Hepatosplenomegaly:** Enlargement of the liver and spleen
* **Liver transplant:** Cirrhosis may require a liver transplant if it progresses to end-stage liver disease
* **Hepatocellular carcinoma:** Liver cancer that can develop in cirrhotic livers
### Body Parts
**Liver:** The organ responsible for filtering toxins from the blood and producing bile for digestion
**Hepatocytes:** Liver cells that perform various functions, including detoxification
**Conditions**
**Cirrhosis:** Advanced scarring of the liver
**Hepatic fibrosis:** Early stage of scarring
**End-stage liver disease:** Terminal stage of cirrhosis
**Symptoms**
**Fatigue:** Lack of energy and tiredness
**Weakness:** Loss of physical strength
**Loss of appetite:** Reduced desire to eat
**Weight loss:** Unintentional weight decrease
**Nausea:** Feeling of queasiness or sickness
**Vomiting:** Forcible expulsion of stomach contents
**Abdominal pain:** Discomfort or pain in the abdomen
**Swelling in the legs and feet (edema):** Fluid accumulation causing puffiness
**Easy bruising or bleeding:** Increased susceptibility to injury
**Procedures**
**Liver biopsy:** Surgical removal of a liver tissue sample
**Ultrasound of the liver:** Imaging test using sound waves to visualize the liver
**Elastography:** Non-invasive imaging test to assess liver stiffness
**Paracentesis:** Removal of fluid from the abdomen
**Variceal ligation:** Procedure to seal off bleeding varices
**Synonyms**
**Scarred liver:** Another name for cirrhosis
**End-stage liver failure:** Advanced stage of cirrhosis
**Treatment**
**Medications:** Drugs to manage symptoms or complications
**Liver transplantation:** Surgery to replace the damaged liver
**Lifestyle modifications:** Changes in behavior, such as avoiding alcohol and eating a healthy diet
**Vaccinations**
**Hepatitis A vaccine:** Protects against hepatitis A virus infection
**Hepatitis B vaccine:** Protects against hepatitis B virus infection
**Related Terms**
**Hepatic stellate cells:** Cells involved in fibrosis
**Kupffer cells:** Liver cells that help fight infections
**Collagen:** Protein involved in scar tissue formation
**Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP):** Protein that can indicate liver cancer
**Child-Turcotte-Pugh score:** System to assess cirrhosis severity
**Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score:** System to predict liver transplant need
**Liver cirrhosis index (LCI):** Index to measure liver fibrosis
**Liver fibrosis index (LFI):** Index to assess liver damage
