Cirrhosis Health Article

Definition

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function as a result of chronic liver disease.

Alternative Names

Liver cirrhosis

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cirrhosis is caused by chronic liver disease. Common causes of chronic liver disease in the United States include:

• Hepatitis C infection
• Long-term alcohol abuse (see alcoholic liver disease)

Other causes of cirrhosis include:

• Autoimmune inflammation of the liver
• Disorders of the drainage system of the liver (the biliary system), such as primary biliary cirrhosis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Hepatitis B
• Medications
• Metabolic disorders of iron and copper (hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease)
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Symptoms

Symptoms may develop gradually, or there may be no symptoms.

When symptoms do occur, they can include:

• Abdominal indigestion or pain
• Confusion or problems thinking
• Impotence, loss of interest in sex, and breast development (gynecomastia) in men
• Nausea and vomiting
• Nosebleeds or bleeding gums
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Swelling or fluid buildup of the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Vomiting blood or blood in stools
• Weakness
• Weight loss
• Yellow color in the skin, mucus membranes, or eyes (jaundice)

Signs and tests

During a physical examination the health care provider may find:

• An enlarged liver or spleen
• Excess breast tissue
• Expanded (distended) abdomen, as a result of too much fluid
• Reddened palms
• Red spider-like blood vessels on the skin
• Smaller (contracted) fingers
• Small testicles in men
• Widened (dilated) veins in the abdomen wall
• Yellow eyes or skin (jaundice)

Tests can reveal liver problems including:

• Anemia (detected on a CBC)
• Clotting problems
• Liver function problems (detected on liver function tests)
• Low serum albumin

The following tests may be used to evaluate the liver:

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen
• Computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen
• Ultrasound of the abdomen

A liver biopsy confirms cirrhosis.

Some patients will be screened for liver cancer every six months. Your doctor will use a blood test to check for levels of alpha fetoprotein and will do an imaging test (ultrasound, MRI, or CT scan).