In this Article

• What is cirrhosis?
• Why does cirrhosis cause problems?
• What are the signs and symptoms of cirrhosis?
• What are the complications of cirrhosis?
• What are the common causes of cirrhosis?
• How is cirrhosis diagnosed and evaluated?
• How is cirrhosis treated?
• What is new and in the future for cirrhosis?
• Cirrhosis At A Glance
• Patient Discussions: Cirrhosis of The Liver - Symptoms at Onset of Disease
• Cirrhosis Glossary
• Cirrhosis Index

What is new and in the future for cirrhosis?

Progress in the management and prevention of cirrhosis continues. Research is ongoing to determine the mechanism of scar formation in the liver and how this process of scarring can be interrupted or even reversed. Newer and better treatments for viral liver disease are being developed to prevent the progression to cirrhosis. Prevention of viral hepatitis by vaccination, which is available for hepatitis B, is being developed for hepatitis C. Treatments for the complications of cirrhosis are being developed or revised and tested continually. Finally, research is being directed at identifying new proteins in the blood that can detect liver cancer early or predict which patients will develop liver cancer.

Cirrhosis At A Glance

• Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease which involves loss of liver cells and irreversible scarring of the liver.
• Alcohol and viral hepatitis B and C are common causes of cirrhosis, although there are many other causes.
• Cirrhosis can cause weakness, loss of appetite, easy bruising, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), itching, and fatigue.
• Diagnosis of cirrhosis can be suggested by the history, physical examination and blood tests, and can be confirmed by liver biopsy.
• Complications of cirrhosis include edema and ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, bleeding from varices, hepatic encephalopathy, hepatorenal syndrome, hepatopulmonary syndrome, hypersplenism, and liver cancer.
• Treatment of cirrhosis is designed to prevent further damage to the liver, treat complications of cirrhosis, and preventing or detecting liver cancer early.
• Transplantation of the liver is becoming an important option for treating patients with advanced cirrhosis.

Cirrhosis of The Liver - Symptoms at Onset of Disease

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

The symptoms of cirrhosis of the liver can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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