cirrhosis

(noun)

A chronic disease of the liver caused by damage from toxins (including alcohol), metabolic problems, hepatitis, or nutritional deprivation. It is characterized by an increase of fibrous tissue and the destruction of liver cells.

Related Terms

Examples of cirrhosis in the following topics:

  • Hepatitis

    • The condition can be self-limiting (healing on its own) or can progress to fibrosis (scarring) and cirrhosis.
    • Extensive damage and scarring of liver, known as cirrhosis, leads to weight loss, easy bruising and bleeding tendencies, peripheral edema and accumulation of ascites, or fluid in the abdominal cavity.
    • Alcoholic hepatitis is distinct from cirrhosis caused by long-term alcohol consumption.
    • Alcoholic hepatitis can occur in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis.
    • Alcoholic hepatitis by itself does not lead to cirrhosis, but cirrhosis is more common in patients with long-term alcohol consumption.

  • Absorption of Alcohol

    • Chronic alcohol abuse can cause fatty liver, cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis .
    • Alcohol use increases the risk of chronic gastritis (stomach inflammation); it is one cause of cirrhosis, hepatitis and pancreatitis in both its chronic and acute forms.
    • Chronic alcohol abuse can cause fatty liver, cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis.

  • Liver Function

    • This type of tissue is most common in alcoholic hepatitis (prevalence of 65%) and alcoholic cirrhosis (prevalence of 51%).

  • Diuretics

    • In medicine, diuretics are used to treat heart failure, liver cirrhosis, hypertension and certain kidney diseases.
    • In medicine, diuretics are used to treat heart failure, liver cirrhosis, hypertension and certain kidney diseases.

  • Jaundice

    • Hepatocellular (hepatic) jaundice can be caused by acute or chronic hepatitis, hepatotoxicity, cirrhosis, drug induced hepatitis, and alcoholic liver disease .
    • Other causes include primary biliary cirrhosis, leading to an increase in plasma conjugated bilirubin because there is impairment of excretion of conjugated bilirubin into the bile.

  • Galactosemia and Glycogen Storage Disease

    • In individuals with galactosemia, the enzymes needed for further metabolism of galactose are severely diminished or missing entirely, leading to toxic levels of galactose 1-phosphate in various tissues as in the case of classic galactosemia, resulting in hepatomegaly (an enlarged liver), cirrhosis, renal failure, cataracts, brain damage, and ovarian failure.

  • Iron Overload and Tissue Damage

    • The most common presentation is hepatic cirrhosis in combination with hypopituitarism, cardiomyopathy, diabetes, arthritis, or hyperpigmentation.