Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is scarring of the liver. Scar tissue forms because of injury or long-term disease. Scar tissue cannot do what healthy liver tissue does - make protein, help fight infections, clean the blood, help digest food and store energy. Cirrhosis can lead to

Easy bruising or bleeding, or nosebleeds
Swelling of the abdomen or legs
Extra sensitivity to medicines
High blood pressure in the vein entering the liver
Enlarged veins in the esophagus and stomach
Kidney failure

About 5 percent of people with cirrhosis get liver cancer.

Cirrhosis has many causes. In the United States, the most common causes are chronic alcoholism and hepatitis. Nothing will make the scar tissue disappear, but treating the cause can keep it from getting worse. If too much scar tissue forms, you may need to consider a liver transplant.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Cirrhosis on Wikipedia

'''Cirrhosis''' is a chronic disease of the liver in which liver tissue is replaced by connective tissue, resulting in the loss of liver function. Cirrhosis is caused by damage from toxins (including alcoholic beverage), metabolism problems, chronic virus hepatitis or other causes. Cirrhosis is sometimes referred to by its obsolete eponym '''Laennec's cirrhosis''' after René Laënnec. Cirrhosis is irreversible but treatment of the causative disease will slow or even halt the damage. Cirrhosis may refer to chronic interstitial inflammation of any tissue, but is rarely used for other diseases than cirrhosis of the liver.

Symptoms

Initial symptoms

Early symptoms include erythema palmare, spider angioma (red spots on the upper body), hypertrophy of the parotid glands, and fibrosis of tendons in the hands. Clubbing may develop. Many people with cirrhosis have no symptoms in the early stages of the disease. However, as scar tissue replaces healthy cells, liver function starts to fail and a person may experience the following symptoms: * exhaustion * fatigue * loss of appetite * nausea * weakness * weight loss * abdominal pain

Complications

As the disease progresses, complications may develop. In some people, these may be the first signs of the disease. * Bruising and hemorrhage due to decreased production of coagulation factors. * Jaundice due to decreased processing of bilirubin. * Itching due to bile products deposited in the skin. * Hepatic encephalopathy - the liver does not clear ammonia and related nitrogenous substances from the blood, which affect cerebral functioning: neglect of personal appearance, unresponsiveness, forgetfulness, trouble concentrating, or changes in sleep habits. * Sensitivity to medication due to decreased metabolism of the active compounds. * Insulin resistance and diabetes ... [ Read More ]

External Resources

Doreen's Web Page - Primary Biliary Cirrhosis (PBC) information. My story about living with PBC. Support Group information. Organ donor awareness and inspirational poems.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Support - Support provided to sufferers of this disease through website links, chat room and newsletter.

Liver Disease - Medicinenet.com - Medical information about liver disorders for patients with cirrhosis of the liver, hepatitis, jaundice and liver cancer.

Cirrhosis of the Liver - From the NIDDK, explains the symptoms, causes, treatments, and effects of cirrhosis.

North Texas PBC Organziation - Site for information on Primary Biliary Cirrhosis. Learn about liver transplantation and proper nutrition in PBC.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis Support Group - Emotional support for those who suffer from PBC, family members, friends and other autoimmune liver disease sufferers.

Cirrhosis Support Group - Learn more about cirrhosis, its symptoms and treatment. Talk to others dealing with cirrhosis.

Hepatitis Central - Current information on this disease as well as liver disease, cirrhosis, rebetron and interferon. For the medical professional and patient. Online support groups and patient referred physicians.