What is cirrhosis? Cirrhosis (say "suh-ROH-sus") is a very
serious condition in which scarring damages the liver. The liver
is a large organ that is part of the digestive system. It does a
wide range of complex jobs that are vital for life. For example,
the liver: When a person has cirrhosis, scar tissue (fibrosis)
replaces healthy tissue. This scar tissue prevents the liver
from working as it should. For example, the liver may stop
producing enough clotting factors, which can lead to bleeding
and bruising. Bile and poisons may build up in the blood.
Scarring can also cause high blood pressure in the vein that
carries blood from the intestines through the liver (portal
hypertension). This can lead to severe bleeding in the digestive
tract and other serious problems. Cirrhosis can be deadly. But
early treatment can help stop damage to the liver. What causes
cirrhosis? Cirrhosis can have many causes. Some of the main ones
include: Less common causes of cirrhosis include severe
reactions to medicines or long-ter