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Conditions/Liver Disease/Chapter

Detailed chapter

Liver Disease — Cirrhosis

Chronic liver injury and complications

Cirrhosis is nodular fibrosis with falling liver function after long-standing injury—viral hepatitis, alcohol, NASH, autoimmune, and metabolic causes among them. Ascites, encephalopathy, jaundice, and portal hypertension (varices) may follow.

Cirrhosis · educational illustration · English labels below

Key points

  • Symptoms
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    Early disease can be silent. Later: fatigue, ascites, jaundice, easy bruising, confusion.

  • Portal hypertension
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    Rising portal pressure drives esophageal/gastric varices, splenomegaly, and ascites. Variceal bleeding is a major emergency.

  • Surveillance and protection
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    Treat the cause, manage ascites, screen varices (endoscopy), and HCC surveillance (US ± AFP). Vaccinations matter.

  • Surgery caution
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    Any operation carries higher risk in cirrhosis; liver reserve and varices shape the decision.

This page is for education. It is not medical advice and does not replace a visit with your physician.

Medical editor: Assoc. Prof. Cengiz Dibekoğlu, MD · Last medically reviewed: August 2026 · English patient-education chapter.