In fact, more than a million people throughout the world die from complications of cirrhosis each year. Forty thousand of those fatalities occur in the United States, making cirrhosis the 11th leading cause of death in the country, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The signs of liver disease aren’t always obvious, though. The early stages can last for years or even decades. During this time, the spread of fibrosis might not bring on any noticeable symptoms. By the time symptoms and/or complications are recognized, liver damage has most likely already progressed to cirrhosis.
How Cirrhosis Develops
The scarring that eventually leads to cirrhosis and its complications is largely due to inflammation caused by persistent and ongoing damage to the liver. This damage can be the result of a number of health problems. The most common of these are:
Chronic heavy drinking of alcohol Hepatitis (in particular types B and C) Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
Less common causes of cirrhosis include obstructed bile ducts of the liver and gallbladder, autoimmune hepatitis, and hereditary conditions such as Wilson’s disease (a buildup of copper in the liver) or hemochromatosis (a buildup of iron in the liver).
Complications of Cirrhosis
Although a healthy liver is able to repair itself, the damage is often too extensive once it becomes cirrhotic. Widespread scarring inhibits blood flow to the liver, which in turn compromises its primary functions.
These normal functions include processing nutrients from food, making bile, building proteins, and removing toxins such as bilirubin (the reddish-brown compound that results from the breakdown of red blood cells) from the blood.
It’s easy to see how serious complications, including liver failure, can develop as a result of cirrhosis.
Regularly visiting with your medical team to review how your condition is progressing is important. This allows for adjustments to your treatment plan, as well as early identification, intervention and treatment of any complications that may arise.
A Word From Verywell
Cirrhosis and the accompanying fibrosis causes significant damage to the liver. Without proper treatment, the scarring and damage will worsen and can quickly lead to various complications, such as easy bruising and bleeding, gallstones, or liver cancer.
A diagnosis of cirrhosis doesn’t mean you have an immediate fatal condition. By following an effective treatment plan set out by your healthcare team, you can help slow the progression of cirrhosis and delay or prevent possible complications—especially if caught early.
Specifically, lesions from gastroesophageal varices are formed. This happens due to decreased blood flow to the liver, causing the veins in the esophagus, stomach, and rectum to become enlarged. As the elevated pressure continues to expand the veins, the vein walls become stretched too thin and they can rupture, causing potentially life-threatening bleeding.
Doctors will look for and treat the underlying problem that led to cirrhosis to help prevent it from getting worse. Part of treatment to slow cirrhosis often includes avoiding things that could continue to damage the liver, such as certain medications, alcohol, and meals high in fat.
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