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.