liver cirrhosis
Also known as cirrhosis of liver, cirrhosis of the liver, cirrhosis, hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure, chronic hepatic failure, end-stage liver disease
Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis, hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure, chronic hepatic failure, and end-stage liver disease, is a chronic condition of the liver in which the normal functioning tissue, or parenchyma, is replaced with scar tissue (fibrosis) and regenerative nodules as a result of chronic liver disease. Damage to the liver leads to repair of liver tissue and subsequent formation of scar tissue. Over time, scar tissue and nodules of regenerating hepatocytes can replace the parenchyma, causing increased resistance to blood flow in the liver's capillaries—the hepatic si
AI overview
Liver cirrhosis is a chronic condition where healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue and regenerating nodules, usually as a result of long-term liver damage. This scarring makes it harder for blood to flow through the liver and prevents it from functioning normally, which is why the condition is serious and requires medical attention.
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Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Cirrhosis
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Cirrhosis of the liver, hepatic cirrhosis
- Medical condition (new).image
- Cirrhosis of liver.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- Cross-section of human liver with cirrhosis
- Medical condition (new).field
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Fatigue, itchiness, swelling in the lower legs, jaundice, easily bruising, fluid build-up in the abdomen
- Medical condition (new).complications
- Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, dilated veins in the esophagus, liver cancer
- Medical condition (new).onset
- Over months, years or decades
- Medical condition (new).duration
- Long term
- Medical condition (new).causes
- Alcoholic liver disease, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
Article
36 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Liver dysfunction
- Portal hypertension
- Other nonspecific signs
- Advanced disease
- Causes
- Common causes
- Less common causes
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Imaging
- Lab findings
- Pathology
- Grading
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Preventing further liver damage
- Lifestyle
- Transplantation
- Decompensated cirrhosis
- Palliative care
- Immune system
- Bleeding and blood clot risk
- Complications
- Ascites
- Esophageal and gastric variceal bleeding
- Hepatic encephalopathy
- Hepatorenal syndrome
- Portal hypertensive gastropathy
- Infection
- Hepatocellular carcinoma
- Epidemiology
- Etymology
- See also
- References
- External links
Cirrhosis, also known as liver cirrhosis, hepatic cirrhosis, chronic liver failure, chronic hepatic failure, and end-stage liver disease, is a chronic condition of the liver in which the normal functioning tissue, or parenchyma, is replaced with scar tissue (fibrosis) and regenerative nodules as a result of chronic liver disease. Damage to the liver leads to repair of liver tissue and subsequent formation of scar tissue. Over time, scar tissue and nodules of regenerating hepatocytes can replace the parenchyma, causing increased resistance to blood flow in the liver's capillaries—the hepatic sinusoids—and consequently portal hypertension, as well as impairment in other aspects of liver function.
The disease typically develops slowly over months or years. Stages include compensated cirrhosis and decompensated cirrhosis. Early symptoms may include tiredness, weakness, loss of appetite, unexplained weight loss, nausea and vomiting, and discomfort in the right upper quadrant of the abdomen. As the disease worsens, symptoms may include itchiness, swelling in the lower legs, fluid build-up in the abdomen, jaundice, bruising easily, and the development of spider-like blood vessels in the skin. The fluid build-up in the abdomen may develop into spontaneous infections. More serious complications include hepatic encephalopathy, bleeding from dilated veins in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines, and liver cancer.