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Cirrhosis is a serious medical issue or complication of the Liver.  It is seen as a change of the liver that results from damage. The normally smooth liver becomes a chronic problem that can lead to nodule formation and fibrosis of the Liver.

This can be a potentially serious medical condition that is generally unable to be reversed. It takes years of damage to the liver, often by a medical condtion that relates to the liver such as Hepatitis, Alcohol, and more. It is one of the top leading causes of death in the US about 1-2% of all deaths.

Cirrhosis can be divided into micronodular, macronodular, and mixed forms. This condtion may result in the liver to loose such functions as:  Metabolism of nutrients, Bile production, Detoxification of blood, Along with other functions.

3 Main Clinical Features:

1.)  Hepatic cell dysfunction

2.)  Portosystemic shunting

3.)  Portal hypertension

Causes of Cirrhosis:

–  Alcoholic liver disease
–  Hepatitis C
–  Hepatitis B
–  Autoimmune Hepatitis
–  Primary and Secondary Bilary Cirrhosis
–  Primary Sclerosing Cholangitis
–  Alpha 1-Antitypsin Deficiency
–  Wilson’s Disease
–  Hemochromatosis
–  Drug induced liver disease
–  Many others

Some of the Most Common Symptoms of Cirrhosis:

–  Weakness
–  Fatigue
–  Weight loss
–  Nausea
–  Abdominal pain
–  Enlarged liver (70%)
–  Enlarged spleen fever
–  Acities
–  and others.

*** Varices are common finding with portal hypertension

How to Diagnosis Cirrhosis

1.) Doppler studies

2.) CT

3.) MRI

4.) Blood work

5.) Liver biopsy may be appropriate.

Treatment of Cirrhosis:

Treatment largely depends on the underlining cause. Treatment may help slow the progression.

–  Stop consuming alcohol

–  Diet change

–  Loss of weight

–  Diuretic: Spironolactone

–  Paracentesis

–  Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) for variceal bleeding that has no improvement with tradition means (endoscopic band ligation or sclerotherapy)

–  Antibiotics when necessary

–  Liver Transplant