Cirrhosis is the severe scarring of the liver and poor liver function seen at the terminal stages of chronic liver disease. The scarring is most often caused by long-term exposure to toxins such as alcohol or viral infections. The liver is located in the upper right side of the abdomen below the ribs.
Symptoms of cirrhosis
- Decreased appetite
- Nose bleeds
- Jaundice (yellow discoloration)
- small spider-shaped arteries underneath the skin
- Weight loss
- Anorexia
- Itchy skin
- Weakness
- Confusion and difficulty thinking clearly
- Abdominal swelling (ascites)
- Swelling of the legs (edema)
- Impotence gynecomastia (when males start to develop breast tissue)
Causes
- A wide range of diseases and conditions can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis.
- Chronic alcohol abuse
- Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D)
- Fat accumulating in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
- Iron buildup in the body (hemochromatosis)
- Cystic fibrosis
- Copper accumulated in the liver (Wilson's disease)
- Poorly formed bile ducts (biliary atresia)
- Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
- Inherited disorders of sugar metabolism (galactosemia or glycogen storage disease)
- Genetic digestive disorder (Alagille syndrome)
- Liver disease caused by your body's immune system (autoimmune hepatitis)
- Destruction of the bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis)
- Hardening and scarring of the bile ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis Infection, such as syphilis or brucellosis
- Medications, including methotrexate or isoniazid
How cirrhosis is diagnosed?
A diagnosis of cirrhosis begins with a detailed history and physical exam. Your doctor will take a complete medical history. The history may reveal long-term alcohol abuse, exposure to hepatitis C, family history of autoimmune diseases, complete blood count (to reveal anemia)coagulation blood tests (to see how quickly blood clots)albumin (to test for a protein produced in the liver)liver function tests alpha fetoprotein (a liver cancer screening)
Additional tests that can evaluate the liver include:
- Upper endoscopy (to see if esophageal varices are present)
- Ultrasound scan of the liver
- MRI of the abdomen
- CT scan of the abdomen
- Liver biopsy (the definitive test for cirrhosis)
Prevention
- Do not drink alcohol if you have cirrhosis. If you have liver disease, you should avoid alcohol.
- Eat a healthy diet. Choose a plant-based diet that's full of fruits and vegetables. Select whole grains and lean sources of protein. Reduce the amount of fatty and fried foods you eat.
- Maintain a healthy weight. An excess amount of body fat can damage your liver. Talk to your doctor about a weight-loss plan if you are obese or overweight.
- Reduce your risk of hepatitis. Sharing needles and having unprotected sex can increase your risk of hepatitis B and C. Ask your doctor about hepatitis vaccinations.