Cirrhosis Health Article

Definition

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease.

Alternative Names

Liver cirrhosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cirrhosis is caused by chronic liver disease. Common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States include:

• Hepatitis C infection
• Long-term alcohol abuse (see alcoholic liver disease)

Other causes of cirrhosis include:

• Autoimmune inflammation of the liver
• Disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system), such as primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Hepatitis B
• Medications
• Metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease)
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Symptoms

Symptoms may develop gradually, or there may be no symptoms.

When symptoms do occur, they can include:

• Abdominal indigestion or pain
• Confusion or problems thinking
• Impotence, loss of interest in sex, and breast development (gynecomastia) in men
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Swelling or fluid buildup of the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Vomiting blood or blood in stools
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes (jaundice)