Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is advanced, lasting scarring of the liver: scar tissue replaces healthy tissue, impairs normal function and partly obstructs blood flow through the organ. It usually follows long-term liver injury, may cause no early symptoms, and can lead to complications including portal hypertension, fluid accumulation, bleeding and liver failure.
Definition and causes
Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, limits normal function and can partly obstruct blood moving through the organ. It develops after ongoing liver injury; the term describes the resulting condition, not a single cause.
Common causes include alcohol-associated liver disease, long-term infection with hepatitis B or C, and fat accumulation in the liver associated with metabolic risk factors. Autoimmune and inherited conditions, disorders affecting bile ducts, and some other illnesses can also cause cirrhosis. More than one cause may contribute in the same person, and sometimes the cause is not identified.
Symptoms and complications
Cirrhosis can be present without noticeable symptoms, particularly in its earlier stages. When symptoms occur, they may include fatigue, loss of appetite or weight, nausea and itching. As liver function worsens, jaundice, easy bruising or bleeding, swelling of the legs or abdomen, and confusion can occur. The signs and course differ among individuals.
Scar tissue can raise pressure in the portal vein, which carries blood from the digestive organs to the liver. This portal hypertension can contribute to fluid collecting in the abdomen (ascites) and enlarged veins (varices) that may bleed. Other possible complications include infection, malnutrition, liver failure and liver cancer. Clinicians often describe cirrhosis as compensated or decompensated; ascites, hepatic encephalopathy or bleeding varices are among the defining events of decompensation.
Diagnosis and management
Diagnosis draws on medical history and physical examination together with tests. Blood tests and imaging can help identify liver injury, assess its likely cause and evaluate the organ; a liver biopsy may be used in some cases. The choice of tests depends on the clinical situation.
Care focuses on treating the underlying cause where possible, limiting further injury and preventing or managing complications. NIDDK notes that there is no specific treatment that cures established cirrhosis and reverses liver damage, although treatment of its cause may slow further damage. When cirrhosis leads to liver failure, clinicians may consider liver transplantation. The course varies with the cause, extent of damage, complications and response to treatment.
Key facts
- What it is
- Cirrhosis is lasting liver scarring that replaces healthy tissue and can impede liver function and blood flow.
- Causes
- Common causes include alcohol-associated liver disease, chronic hepatitis B or C, and fat accumulation in the liver associated with metabolic risk factors; causes can overlap.
- Early course
- Some people have no noticeable symptoms until the liver is significantly damaged.
- Decompensation
- Ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and bleeding from varices are events used to define decompensated cirrhosis.
- Management
- Treatment aims to address the cause and manage complications; transplantation may be considered when cirrhosis causes liver failure.
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Answers use only “Cirrhosis” and its references, with citations.
References
- 1.Definition & Facts for Cirrhosis
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Defines cirrhosis as permanent liver scarring, explains how scar tissue affects liver function and blood flow, and describes complications.
- 2.Symptoms & Causes of Cirrhosis
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Reviews common symptoms and causes, including alcohol-associated liver disease, fat accumulation in the liver, and chronic hepatitis B or C.
- 3.Diagnosis of Cirrhosis
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Describes evaluation using medical history, examination, blood and imaging tests, with biopsy used when appropriate.
- 4.Treatment for Cirrhosis
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Explains treatment of causes and complications and when liver transplantation may be considered.
- 5.Cirrhosis
National Health Service (NHS), United Kingdom · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Provides an independent overview of causes, symptoms, risks and treatment; page reviewed 10 February 2025.
- 6.Back to Basics: Outpatient Management of Cirrhosis
American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) · other · reliability: high · retrieved 19 October 2026
Supports: Defines decompensated cirrhosis using events including ascites, hepatic encephalopathy and esophageal variceal bleeding.
References are suggested by the research engine and may be incomplete. Unverified URLs are omitted rather than guessed.
Article history
- Version 119 October 2026 · EditorCreated by Zapia