Cirrhosis is a disease that destroys healthy tissue, leaving scar tissue, and blocking the flow of blood through an organ. It usually refers to the liver although it may be used to describe the same process in other organs in the body.

When Cirrhosis occurs, the liver ceases to function properly, failing to control infection and blood clotting, and preventing bile from transferring to the small intestine.Causes

Alcohol abuse is the most common cause of cirrhosis and many people associate the disease with alcoholism. Alcoholic cirrhosis will only develop after many years of heavy drinking.

Hepatitis C infection can cause damage to the liver that may develop into cirrhosis over a period of time. Other forms of the infection, hepatitis B and D can also have the same effect.

There are a number of other conditions and inherited diseases that prevent healthy liver function, which may in turn lead to cirrhosis. Diabetes can lead to liver damage for example, as can the rare inherited disorder Wilson’s Disease.

Any condition that results in the bile ducts becoming blocked, such as cancer of the bile ducts and cancer of the pancreas , and the use of certain drugs or exposure to toxins can also cause cirrhosis.

Treatment

Cirrhosis cannot be cured, but treatment can be provided to slow the progress of the condition. Specific kinds of treatment will depend on the underlying cause. For example, people with alcoholic cirrhosis will benefit from no longer drinking alcohol, and drugs to reduce or remove copper from the body will [help to ease cirrhosis that occurs as a result of Wilson disease.

If the liver is extremely damaged by scarring through long-term cirrhosis it may cease to function at all. In this situation a liver transplant is the only option.