← All diseases

Disease Atlas / Disease detail

Liver cirrhosis

An educational overview that conservatively summarizes the definition, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, management, and research evidence of liver cirrhosis

cirrhosis of liver · cirrhosis

MONDO:0005155Public QA completeSource-bound · 4

Disease at a glance

Start with the essentials, then explore the patient and research views.

Public revision · 07dbaaeca165

Disease category
Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease in which chronic liver damage causes normal liver tissue to be replaced by scar tissue.
Key mechanism
Causes are diverse and may include chronic viral hepatitis, long-term alcohol consumption, and metabolic, autoimmune, or cholestatic liver diseases.
Main causes · related factors
The scar tissue makes it difficult for the liver to produce proteins, respond to infections, process blood, and assist with digestion and energy storage as a normal liver would.
Representative patterns
Representative features may include a tendency to bruise or bleed easily, ascites, leg edema, jaundice, pruritus, portal hypertension, and esophageal/gastric varices.
Individual differences
Risk and progression vary by individual depending on the cause, the duration and extent of liver damage, the presence of alcohol use, metabolic disease, or infection, comorbidities, and response to treatment.
Diagnosis
In the early stages, symptoms may be minimal or absent, but as it progresses, decompensated complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and decreased kidney function may appear.
Management
Diagnosis is determined by integrating medical history and physical examination with blood tests, imaging tests, and liver biopsy if necessary.
Treatment/Research Status
Since a single test result alone cannot confirm the cause, fibrosis stage, risk of complications, or prognosis, clinical findings and multiple test results must be interpreted together.
Read Evidence
Management focuses on treating the underlying cause and preventing further liver damage, and involves regular assessment and management of complications such as ascites, varices, and hepatic encephalopathy.
Key Precautions
While there is no established treatment to generally reverse formed scar tissue, progression can be slowed through treatment of the underlying cause, and liver transplantation may be considered in advanced cases.

For patients and families

A structured guide for understanding the disease and preparing for clinical conversations.

At a Glance

Cirrhosis is a progressive liver disease in which chronic liver damage causes normal liver tissue to be replaced by scar tissue.

Representative features may include a tendency to bruise or bleed easily, ascites, leg edema, jaundice, pruritus, portal hypertension, and esophageal/gastric varices.

How the disease works

Causes are diverse and may include chronic viral hepatitis, long-term alcohol consumption, and metabolic, autoimmune, or cholestatic liver diseases.

The scar tissue makes it difficult for the liver to produce proteins, respond to infections, process blood, and assist with digestion and energy storage as a normal liver would.

Variations in presentation among individuals

Risk and progression vary by individual depending on the cause, the duration and extent of liver damage, the presence of alcohol use, metabolic disease, or infection, comorbidities, and response to treatment.

The broad framework of diagnosis and management

In the early stages, symptoms may be minimal or absent, but as it progresses, decompensated complications such as ascites, variceal bleeding, hepatic encephalopathy, and decreased kidney function may appear.

Diagnosis is determined by integrating medical history and physical examination with blood tests, imaging tests, and liver biopsy if necessary.

Current status of treatment

Since a single test result alone cannot confirm the cause, fibrosis stage, risk of complications, or prognosis, clinical findings and multiple test results must be interpreted together.

Management focuses on treating the underlying cause and preventing further liver damage, and involves regular assessment and management of complications such as ascites, varices, and hepatic encephalopathy.

While there is no established treatment to generally reverse formed scar tissue, progression can be slowed through treatment of the underlying cause, and liver transplantation may be considered in advanced cases.

How to read clinical trials

NCT01396954 on ClinicalTrials.gov is a registration record for an observational study addressing cirrhosis and diabetes; the fact of registration alone does not imply treatment efficacy, approval, or standard of care.

Points to verify during clinical consultations

In clinical practice, it is possible to identify possible causes, exposure to alcohol, drugs, and supplements, the current stage and complications, the safety of medications being taken, necessary follow-up examinations, and whether liver transplant evaluation is needed.

Medical Guidance

This material is for educational purposes and is not intended as guidance for individual diagnosis or treatment.

Evidence and sources

A trial registry status does not establish efficacy or regulatory approval.