Cirrhosis (patient information)

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD

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How do I know if I have cirrhosis and what are the symptoms of cirrhosis?

Early cirrhosis does not have any symptoms. However, as the disease progresses, a person may experience the following symptoms:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea and vomiting
• Weight loss
• Abdominal pain and bloating when fluid accumulates in the abdomen
• Itching
• Bleeding easily
• Spiderlike blood vessels on the skin

Other health problems may also cause these symptoms. Only a doctor can tell for sure. A person with any of these symptoms should tell the doctor so that the problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Who is at risk for cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis can be caused by many things, some known and others unknown:

• Chronic alcohol abuse: This is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the United States and other western countries.
• Chronic Hepatitis B and C viruses and perhaps other viruses, can damage the liver over a prolonged time and eventually cause cirrhosis. This is the most common cause of cirrhosis in some Asian countries.
• Autoimmune hepatitis: The body's protective antibodies injure the liver cells because they fail to recognize the liver as its own tissue.
• Chronic bile duct blockage
• Wilson's Disease or hemochromatosis: Tetals are present in all body cells. When abnormal amounts of them accumulate in the liver, scarring and cirrhosis may develop.
• Cystic fibrosis and Alpha l-antitrypsin deficiency
• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
• Drugs and toxins: Studies demonstrate that prolonged exposure to certain chemicals or drugs can damage the liver.

Where to find medical care for cirrhosis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating cirrhosis

Copyleft Sources

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/cirrhosis/index.htm

http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cirrhosis/DS00373/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

http://www.hepatitis.va.gov/vahep?page=cirrh-00-00

http://www.gicare.com/diseases/Cirrhosis.aspx