Definition: Cirrhosis is simply extensive fibrosis. The fibrosis becomes so severe that the liver can't continue to function properly. As a chronic disease, it is a major cause of death in the United States and other countries and is most often caused by alcoholism, hepatitis B and hepatitis C (other causes include gallbladder diseases, too much iron in the liver (hemochromatosis) and autoimmune hepatitis. The main treatment goal for chronic hepatitis is to prevent cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis is treated with nutrition and by addressing the cause of the fibrosis (alcohol or viruses). In addition, there are usually other complications that need to be managed, such as portal hypertension and ascites. Untreated cirrhosis leads to death due to liver (or other organ) failure.
