What is liver cirrhosis?

General
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Liver cirrhosis is a chronic, irreversible disease of the liver in which normal healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis). This scarring distorts the structure of the liver, blocks normal blood flow, and reduces the liver’s ability to perform vital functions such as detoxification, protein synthesis, and the production of bile.

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Symptoms of Liver Cirrhosis

Symptoms often develop slowly and may vary depending on severity:

  • Fatigue and weakness – feeling tired easily.

  • Loss of appetite and weight loss – due to poor liver function.

  • Jaundice – yellowing of skin and eyes because of bile buildup.

  • Abdominal swelling (ascites) – fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

  • Easy bruising or bleeding – the liver cannot make enough clotting factors.

  • Confusion or forgetfulness (hepatic encephalopathy) – toxins build up, affecting the brain.

Causes of Liver Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis develops when the liver is damaged over a long period. Major causes include:

  • Chronic alcohol consumption – long-term drinking damages liver cells.

  • Viral hepatitis – chronic Hepatitis B or C infection can lead to inflammation and scarring.

  • Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) – fat accumulation in the liver damages cells.

  • Autoimmune liver diseases – the immune system attacks liver cells.

  • Metabolic/genetic disorders – like Wilson’s disease or hemochromatosis

MBH/PS

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Liver cirrhosis is a serious, irreversible condition where healthy liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue (fibrosis ) due to chronic damage from causes like alcoholism, viral hepatitis, or NAFLD . This widespread scarring disrupts the liver’s architecture, severely impairing its vital functions—such as detoxification and protein synthesis—leading to systemic symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites) , and in advanced stages, confusion (hepatic encephalopathy) .

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