Cirrhosis Liver Prognosis

Cirrhosis is classified as the scarring of the liver that occurs after long-term liver damage. After enough damage, the liver is unable to heal itself and ceases to function. If left untreated, the prognosis for people with cirrhosis is quite poor.

Identification

• If caught early enough, damage to the liver caused by cirrhosis can be minimized and the prognosis can be positive. Most often, treatment involves refraining from drinking alcohol; if hepatitis is the cause, medication may be prescribed.

Warning

• Severe cirrhosis may cause liver failure. If the liver ceases to function, the patient may have to undergo a liver transplant to survive. According to Merck, after heart disease and cancer, cirrhosis is the third most common killer of people in the age bracket of 45 to 65.

Effects

• Other complications of cirrhosis include more frequent infections, liver cancer, malnutrition and pressure placed on the veins that bring blood to the liver.

Types

• Cirrhosis can be caused by a number of factors, including disease, alcoholism, parasites and fat buildup. Prognosis can be greatly affected if the cause of the damage is identified and immediately remedied.

Prevention/Solution

• Several lifestyle choices can prevent cirrhosis, such as moderating your weight, curbing alcohol intake and ensuring you don't contract diseases like hepatitis that affect the liver.