Gastroenterology and Digestive Disorders Conference

Cirrhosis of Liver

Cirrhosis of liver is a serious degenerative, irreversible, life-threatening disease that occurs when healthy cells in the liver are damaged and replaced by scar tissue. The scarring is most often caused by long-term exposure to toxins such as viral infections or alcohol. Severe damage can lead to liver failure and possibly sometimes death. The liver also helps in maintaining the proper composition of the blood by regulating the amounts of fat, protein, and sugar that enter the bloodstream. As the body's primary blood filter, the liver works to detoxify drugs, alcohol, and other potentially harmful chemicals. Along with spleen, the liver traps and disposes of worn-out red blood cells. If  liver is not functioning properly, you are more susceptible to infection. It has many essential body functions such as storing sugar and vitamins and producing bile, which helps your body absorb dietary fats, cholesterol, and vitamins A, D, E, and K, creating blood clotting proteins, Cirrhosis can cause weakness, loss of appetite, easy bruising, yellowing of the skin (jaundice), itching, and fatigue, Diagnosis of cirrhosis can be suggested by history, blood tests and physical examination can be confirmed by liver biopsy.