| The liver, the largest organ in the body, is essential in | | | | The distortion of the normal liver structure by the scar |
| keeping the body functioning properly. It removes or | | | | tissue interferes with the flow of blood through the |
| neutralizes poisons from the blood, produces immune | | | | liver. It also handicaps the function of the liver which, |
| agents to control infection, and removes germs and | | | | through the loss of normal liver tissue, leads to failure |
| bacteria from the blood. It makes proteins that regulate | | | | of the liver to perform some of its critically important |
| blood clotting and produces bile to help absorb fats | | | | functions. |
| and fat-soluble vitamins. You cannot live without a | | | | There may also be some abdominal pain and loss of |
| functioning liver. | | | | weight. In the advanced stage, the patient develops a |
| Cirrhosis is the liver's response to repeated injury. The | | | | low grade fever. He has a foul breath, a jaundiced skin |
| liver becomes filled with tough fibrous bands and the | | | | and distended veins in the abdomen. Reddish hairlike |
| cells clump together to form nodules. Eventually the | | | | markings, resembling small spiders, may appear on the |
| fibrosis and nodules cause the liver to shrink and | | | | face, neck, arms, and trunk. The abdomen becomes |
| become hard. Blood flow through the liver becomes | | | | bloated and swollen, the mind gets clouded, and there |
| disrupted, elevating the pressure in a part of the | | | | may be considerable bleeding from the stomach. |
| circulation known as the portal system. This elevation in | | | | Cirrhosis can cause extremely dry skin and intense |
| blood pressure can cause secondary damage in the | | | | itching. The whites of the eyes and the skin may turn |
| form of esophageal varicies , hemorrhoids, and | | | | yellow (jaundice), and urine may be dark yellow or |
| distended veins around the umbilicus. | | | | brown. Stools may be black or bloody. Sometimes the |
| Cirrhosis is the result of chronic liver disease that | | | | patient develops persistent high blood pressure due to |
| causes scarring of the liver and liver dysfunction. This | | | | the scarring (portal hypertension). This type of |
| often has many complications, including accumulation of | | | | hypertension can be life threatening. It can cause veins |
| fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding disorders | | | | to enlarge in the stomach and in the tube leading from |
| (coagulopathy), increased pressure in the blood vessels | | | | the mouth to the stomach (esophagus). |
| of the liver (portal hypertension), and confusion or a | | | | Causes Resposible for Cirrhosis |
| change in the level of consciousness (hepatic | | | | Autoimmune Hepatitis. It occurs due to attacks on liver |
| encephalopathy). | | | | by body’s immune system. It leads to inflammation |
| In cirrhosis of the liver, scar tissue replaces normal, | | | | and damage of liver and results in cirrhosis. |
| healthy tissue, blocking the flow of blood through the | | | | Inherited diseases. Inherited diseases like Wilson’s |
| organ and preventing it from working as it should. | | | | disease, glycogen storage diseases, Alpha-1 antitrypsin |
| Cirrhosis is the twelfth leading cause of death by | | | | deficiency and galactosemia interfere with the handling |
| disease, killing about 26,000 people each year. Also, the | | | | of proteins, enzymes, metals etc in the liver that could |
| cost of cirrhosis in terms of human suffering, hospital | | | | result in liver disorders. And such liver disorders may |
| costs, and lost productivity is high. | | | | result in cirrhosis. |