Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is the final stage of chronic liver disease, marked by irreversible scarring and permanent damage to the liver. Understanding this condition is the first step toward managing it.

What is Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is a condition where healthy liver tissue is gradually replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis), leading to a progressive loss of liver function. This scarring disrupts the liver's normal structure and its ability to perform vital jobs, such as processing nutrients, filtering toxins from the blood, and producing essential proteins.

As scar tissue builds up, it hardens the liver and obstructs blood flow through it, leading to a dangerous increase in pressure in the veins that supply the liver (portal hypertension).

While the damage from cirrhosis cannot be undone, early diagnosis and treatment can slow its progression and prevent or manage its life-threatening complications.

Causes of Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is not caused by a single event but is the result of long-term, continuous damage to the liver. Many different liver diseases and conditions can lead to cirrhosis.

The most common causes include:

Long-term, excessive alcohol consumption is a leading cause of cirrhosis.

Hepatitis B and C infections, if left untreated, can cause decades of inflammation that result in cirrhosis.

A condition where fat builds up in the liver, leading to inflammation and damage, which can progress to cirrhosis. This is often linked to obesity, high cholesterol, and diabetes.

Autoimmune hepatitis is an autoimmune disease where the body's own immune system attacks the liver.

Genetic conditions such as Wilson disease (excess copper) and hemochromatosis (excess iron) can damage the liver.

Conditions that block or damage the bile ducts, such as primary biliary cholangitis (PBC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC).

Symptoms of Cirrhosis

In the early stages, cirrhosis may cause few or no symptoms. This is known as compensated cirrhosis. As the liver damage worsens and function declines (decompensated cirrhosis), symptoms become more apparent and severe.

Common symptoms include:

  • Fatigue and weakness.
  • Loss of appetite and unintended weight loss.
  • Nausea and abdominal discomfort.
  • Jaundice: Yellowing of the skin and eyes.
  • Ascites: Swelling in the abdomen due to fluid buildup.
  • Edema: Swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet.
  • Spider Angiomas: Small, spider-like blood vessels on the skin.
  • Easy bruising and bleeding.
  • Hepatic Encephalopathy: Confusion, memory problems, or personality changes caused by the buildup of toxins in the blood.

Diagnosing Cirrhosis

A thorough diagnosis is critical to confirm cirrhosis, assess the extent of the damage, and identify the underlying cause.

Diagnostic procedures may include:

A panel of liver function tests can reveal signs of liver damage and reduced function.

An ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI can show the size, shape, and texture of the liver, identifying signs of scarring or nodules.

This is a specialized, non-invasive ultrasound that measures the stiffness of the liver. A stiffer liver indicates more significant fibrosis or cirrhosis.

In some cases, a small sample of liver tissue is taken and examined under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis and determine the cause and extent of the damage.

Treatment for Cirrhosis

Treatment for cirrhosis aims to slow the progression of liver damage, prevent and treat complications, and manage the underlying cause. There is no cure for cirrhosis, but North Shore Gastroenterology can develop a personalized management plan to help you live better with the condition.

Treatment strategies include:

This is the most important step. It may involve stopping alcohol use, antiviral medications for hepatitis, or immunosuppressants for autoimmune hepatitis.

A low-sodium diet is crucial for managing fluid retention (ascites and edema). Good nutrition is also vital to prevent malnutrition.

Diuretics ("water pills") are used to reduce fluid buildup. Other medications may be prescribed to reduce pressure in the veins and lower the risk of bleeding.

Procedures such as paracentesis (to drain abdominal fluid) or upper endoscopy (to treat esophageal varices) are used to manage serious complications.

For patients with end-stage liver failure, a liver transplant is the only definitive treatment. Our team works closely with regional transplant centers for evaluation and referral.

Find Compassionate Cirrhosis Care in Westlake or Brooklyn, OH

Living with cirrhosis presents significant challenges, but the dedicated team at North Shore Gastroenterology can provide expert, supportive care to patients to help manage their liver health.

Contact us today at (440) 808-1212 or request an appointment online to schedule a visit.