Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a later stage of scarring, or fibrosis, of the liver caused by a variety liver conditions and diseases, including chronic alcoholism and hepatitis.

Cirrhosis occurs in response to damage to your liver. When the liver is injured, it attempts to repair itself and scar tissue forms. As cirrhosis progresses, additional scar tissue forms, also affecting liver function.

“Decompensated cirrhosis” is a term that describes the development of certain complications resulting from the changes brought on by cirrhosis, and can be fatal.

The liver damage done by cirrhosis generally is not repairable. But if liver cirrhosis is diagnosed and treated early, further damage can be mitigated and sometimes reversed.