Highlights
Disease Overview
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Cirrhosis damages the liver by causing scarring that blocks blood and bile flow.
The Main Causes of Cirrhosis
- Alcoholism. It is essential that people with cirrhosis stop drinking alcohol.
- Chronic hepatitis C or B.
- Autoimmune liver disease.
- Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
- Iron metabolism disorders.
Cirrhosis can lead to a number of serious complications including portal hypertension (increased pressure in the abdominal veins), ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen), encephalopathy (brain dysfunction), and liver cancer.
Treatment
Cirrhosis treatment first targets the conditions that have caused the disease. For example, chronic viral hepatitis is treated with interferon and other antiviral drugs. Complications are treated on an individual basis. When complications cannot be controlled or the liver ceases to function, liver transplantation may be required.
Research
- A 2005 clinical trial of patients with chronic hepatitis C and cirrhosis found that interferon treatment reduced the risk of liver cancer and significantly improved chances of survival. The study emphasizes the importance, and substantial benefits, of interferon therapy.
- Encephalopathy, a complication of cirrhosis, hampers brain function. Even minimal forms of the condition can have detrimental effects on functional ability. One study suggested that minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) impairs the ability to safely drive a car, and that all patients with liver cirrhosis be tested for MHE.
- The antibiotic rifaximin (Xifaxan) is being investigated for treatment of cirrhosis-associated encephalopathy.
- Kidney failure can develop in late-stage cirrhosis as a result of portal hypertension. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen, may increase the risk for kidney failure.
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