Learn About Cirrhosis

What is the definition of Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.

What are the alternative names for Cirrhosis?

Liver cirrhosis; Chronic liver disease; End-stage liver disease; Liver failure - cirrhosis; Ascites - cirrhosis

What are the causes of Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is most often the end result of chronic liver damage caused by long-term (chronic) liver disease. Common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States are:

  • Hepatitis B or hepatitis C infection.
  • Alcohol overuse.
  • Buildup of fat in the liver that is NOT caused by drinking too much alcohol (called metabolic associated steatotic liver disease [MASLD] or metabolic associated steatohepatitis [MASH]). It is closely related to being overweight, having high blood pressure, diabetes or pre-diabetes, and high cholesterol.

Less common causes of cirrhosis include:

  • When immune cells mistake the liver's normal cells for harmful invaders and attack them, called autoimmune hepatitis (AH)
  • Bile duct disorders
  • Some medicines
  • Liver diseases passed down in families
What are the symptoms of Cirrhosis?

There may be no symptoms, or symptoms may come on slowly, depending on how well the liver is working. Often, it is discovered by chance when an abdominal ultrasound exam is done or blood is drawn for another reason.

Early symptoms include:

  • Fatigue and loss of energy
  • Poor appetite and weight loss
  • Nausea or belly pain
  • Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin

As liver function worsens, symptoms may include:

  • Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
  • Yellow color in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes (jaundice)
  • Redness on the palms of the hands
  • In men, impotence, shrinking of the testicles, and breast swelling
  • Easy bruising and abnormal bleeding, most often from swollen veins in the digestive tract
  • Confusion or problems thinking
  • Pale or clay-colored stools
  • Bleeding from upper or lower gastrointestinal tract
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What are the current treatments for Cirrhosis?

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Some things you can do to help take care of your liver disease are:

  • Drink no alcohol.
  • Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, and simple carbohydrates.
  • Get vaccinated for diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, hepatitis A and B, and pneumococcal disease.
  • Talk to your provider about all medicines you take, including herbs and supplements and over-the-counter medicines.
  • Exercise.
  • Control your underlying metabolic problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

MEDICINES FROM YOUR PROVIDER

  • Water pills (diuretics) to get rid of fluid build-up.
  • Vitamin K or blood products to prevent excess bleeding.
  • Medicines for mental confusion.
  • Antibiotics for infections.
  • Medicines to cure Hepatitis C.
  • Medicines to cure Hepatitis B.
  • New medicines are being created to treat MASH. One was just FDA approved, called resmetirom (Rezdiffra) Your doctor can discuss whether you should be treated with this medicine.

OTHER TREATMENTS

  • Endoscopic treatments for enlarged veins in the esophagus (varices)
  • Removal of fluid from the abdomen (paracentesis)
  • Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to improve blood flow in the liver

When cirrhosis progresses to end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be needed.

Who are the top Cirrhosis Local Doctors?
Gastroenterology
Gastroenterology

Long Beach Gastroenterology - Long Beach

7677 Center Ave Suite 201, 
Huntington Beach, CA 
 2.7 mi
Offers Telehealth

Saeid Goshtasbi is a Gastroenterologist in Huntington Beach, California. Dr. Goshtasbi and is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cirrhosis. His top areas of expertise are Ascites, Hepatitis, Gastrointestinal Bleeding, Endoscopy, and Colonoscopy.

Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Dao Medical Group Inc

9191 Westminster Ave, 
Garden Grove, CA 
 1.2 mi
Offers Telehealth

Michael Dao is an Internal Medicine provider in Garden Grove, California. Dr. Dao and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cirrhosis. His top areas of expertise are Vertigo, Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), Familial Hypertension, and Hypertension.

 
 
 
 
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Internal Medicine
Internal Medicine

Le, Nguyen, Tram, Nguyen And Tran Medical Corporation

15355 Brookhurst St, Suite 102 108, 
Westminster, CA 
 2.3 mi

Hieu Tram is an Internal Medicine provider in Westminster, California. Dr. Tram and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cirrhosis. His top areas of expertise are Jaundice, Hepatitis B, Cirrhosis, and High Potassium Level.

What are the support groups for Cirrhosis?

You can often ease the stress of illness by joining a liver disease support group whose members share common experiences and problems.

What is the outlook (prognosis) for Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is caused by scarring of the liver. In most cases, the liver cannot heal or return to normal function once the damage is severe. Cirrhosis can lead to serious complications.

What are the possible complications of Cirrhosis?

Complications may include:

  • Bleeding disorders
  • Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and infection of the fluid (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis)
  • Enlarged veins in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines that bleed easily (varices)
  • Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension)
  • Kidney failure (hepatorenal syndrome)
  • Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
  • Mental confusion, change in the level of consciousness, or coma (hepatic encephalopathy)
When should I contact a medical professional for Cirrhosis?

Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of cirrhosis.

Get emergency medical help right away if you have:

  • Abdominal or chest pain
  • Abdominal swelling or ascites that is new or suddenly becomes worse
  • A fever (temperature greater than 101°F or 38.3°C)
  • Diarrhea
  • Confusion or a change in alertness, or it gets worse
  • Rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, or blood in the urine
  • Shortness of breath
  • Vomiting more than once a day
  • Yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice) that is new or gets worse quickly
How do I prevent Cirrhosis?

DO NOT drink alcohol. Talk to your provider if you are worried about your drinking. Take steps to prevent getting hepatitis B or C or passing it to other people.

What are the latest Cirrhosis Clinical Trials?
A Pilot Study of the Combination of VIR-2218 and Peginterferon Alfa-2a for Chronic Hepatitis B

Background: Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 292 million people worldwide; 887,000 die each year from cirrhosis, liver cancer, and related issues. Treatment options are limited.

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Coagulation in Cirrhosis

Summary: Out of fear of bleeding, liver cirrhosis patients are often treated prophylactically with blood and coagulation products before minor interventions. The COUCH study will examine whether these patients benefit from a restrictive administration of coagulation products.

Who are the sources who wrote this article ?

Published Date: March 31, 2024
Published By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.

What are the references for this article ?

FDA News Release. FDA approves first treatment for patients with liver scarring due to fatty liver disease. March 14, 2024. www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-patients-liver-scarring-due-fatty-liver-disease. Accessed July 30, 2024.

Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 139.

Kamath PS, Shah VH. Overview of cirrhosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 74.

Rinella ME, Lazarus JV, Ratziu V, et al. A multisociety Delphi consensus statement on new fatty liver disease nomenclature. J Hepatol. 2023;79(6):1542-1556. PMID: 37354790 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364790/.