Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver deteriorates over time, causing scarring and chronic damage. The liver is a large organ that sits in the upper abdomen and helps control infections, remove toxins from the blood, make proteins for blood clotting and help produce bile to absorb fats.
Causes
In the United States, heavy alcohol consumption and chronic hepatitis C are the most common causes of cirrhosis, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disease. People who have a diet high in fat may develop nonalcoholic fatty liver syndrome, which can in turn lead to cirrhosis. People who suffer from cystic fibrosis, a disease where mucus becomes thick and sticky, may develop cirrhosis as the mucus blocks the bile ducts. Destruction of the bile ducts, known as primary biliary cirrhosis, can cause cirrhosis as well. MayoClinic.com explains that cirrhosis may also occur due to a buildup of iron or copper in the liver, autoimmune diseases, hardening and scarring of the bile ducts and, in some underdeveloped countries, parasitic infections.
Symptoms
Cirrhosis often has no signs or symptoms in the early stages of the disease. When signs and symptoms do occur, liver damage is usually extensive. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that symptoms often include fatigue, bleeding and bruising easily, fluid accumulation in the abdomen, swelling in the legs, weight loss and loss of appetite.
Complications
Liver damage can affect almost every bodily process, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Portal hypertension is one of the more serious complications of cirrhosis. Portal hypertension refers to an increase in pressure in the portal vein responsible for carrying blood from the intestine to the liver. Portal hypertension can cause hemorrhaging in the upper stomach and esophagus due to ruptured blood vessels, bacterial peritonitis caused by fluid buildup in the abdomen as well as liver-associated brain damage, or hepatic encephalopathy. MayoClinic.com explains that hepatic encephalopathy can occur when the liver is no longer able to detoxify harmful substances from the blood, and can lead to coma and death.
Diagnosis
In order to diagnose cirrhosis, physicians will usually assess patients for risk factors associated with cirrhosis, such as alcohol use and obesity. They will also collect blood samples to look for abnormal labs associated with the disease. During a physical examination, a physician will feel for the patient's liver under the skin to feel for hardening or swelling as well as look for signs of swelling in the abdomen due to ascites. A physician may also send a patient for a computed tomography scan or magnetic resonance imaging scan in order to view the liver. According to MayoClinic.com, to confirm the diagnosis, a physician will commonly perform a liver biopsy.
Treatments
Treatment of cirrhosis often includes first treating the underlying cause, such as alcoholism or hepatitis. Physicians will also treat the complications associated with cirrhosis by prescribing medications to help control portal hypertension and removing excess fluids from the abdomen and legs if necessary. Patients may receive antibiotics for infections. In cases of people with advanced cirrhosis a liver transplant may be necessary.
