Cirrhosis: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia (original) (raw)

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.

There may be no symptoms, or symptoms may come on slowly, depending on how well the liver is working. Often, it is discovered by chance when an abdominal ultrasound exam is done or blood is drawn for another reason.

Early symptoms include:

• Fatigue and loss of energy
• Poor appetite and weight loss
• Nausea or belly pain
• Small, red spider-like blood vessels on the skin

As liver function worsens, symptoms may include:

• Fluid buildup in the legs (edema) and in the abdomen (ascites)
• Yellow color in the skin, mucous membranes, or eyes (jaundice)
• Redness on the palms of the hands
• In men, impotence, shrinking of the testicles, and breast swelling
• Easy bruising and abnormal bleeding, most often from swollen veins in the digestive tract
• Confusion or problems thinking
• Pale or clay-colored stools
• Bleeding from upper or lower gastrointestinal tract

LIFESTYLE CHANGES

Some things you can do to help take care of your liver disease are:

• Drink no alcohol.
• Eat a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, and simple carbohydrates.
• Get vaccinated for diseases such as influenza, COVID-19, hepatitis A and B, and pneumococcal disease.
• Talk to your provider about all medicines you take, including herbs and supplements and over-the-counter medicines.
• Exercise.
• Control your underlying metabolic problems, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.

MEDICINES FROM YOUR PROVIDER

• Water pills (diuretics) to get rid of fluid build-up.
• Vitamin K or blood products to prevent excess bleeding.
• Medicines for mental confusion.
• Antibiotics for infections.
• Medicines to cure Hepatitis C.
• Medicines to cure Hepatitis B.
• New medicines are being created to treat MASH. One was just FDA approved, called resmetirom (Rezdiffra) Your doctor can discuss whether you should be treated with this medicine.

OTHER TREATMENTS

• Endoscopic treatments for enlarged veins in the esophagus (varices)
• Removal of fluid from the abdomen (paracentesis)
• Placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) to improve blood flow in the liver

When cirrhosis progresses to end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be needed.

Cirrhosis is caused by scarring of the liver. In most cases, the liver cannot heal or return to normal function once the damage is severe. Cirrhosis can lead to serious complications.

Complications may include:

• Bleeding disorders
• Buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and infection of the fluid (spontaneous bacterial peritonitis)
• Enlarged veins in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines that bleed easily (varices)
• Increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension)
• Kidney failure (hepatorenal syndrome)
• Liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma)
• Mental confusion, change in the level of consciousness, or coma (hepatic encephalopathy)

Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of cirrhosis.

Get emergency medical help right away if you have:

• Abdominal or chest pain
• Abdominal swelling or ascites that is new or suddenly becomes worse
• A fever (temperature greater than 101°F or 38.3°C)
• Diarrhea
• Confusion or a change in alertness, or it gets worse
• Rectal bleeding, vomiting blood, or blood in the urine
• Shortness of breath
• Vomiting more than once a day
• Yellowing skin or eyes (jaundice) that is new or gets worse quickly

Liver cirrhosis; Chronic liver disease; End-stage liver disease; Liver failure - cirrhosis; Ascites - cirrhosis

FDA News Release. FDA approves first treatment for patients with liver scarring due to fatty liver disease. March 14, 2024. www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-treatment-patients-liver-scarring-due-fatty-liver-disease. Accessed July 30, 2024.

Garcia-Tsao G. Cirrhosis and its sequelae. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 139.

Kamath PS, Shah VH. Overview of cirrhosis. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ, eds. Sleisenger and Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 74.

Rinella ME, Lazarus JV, Ratziu V, et al. A multisociety Delphi consensus statement on new fatty liver disease nomenclature. J Hepatol. 2023;79(6):1542-1556. PMID: 37354790 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37364790/.

Updated by: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Aria - Jefferson Health Torresdale, Jefferson Digestive Diseases Network, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.