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                Clinical TrialsCirrhosis

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    Definition & Facts
    Cirrhosis is a condition in which your liver is scarred and permanently damaged. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue and prevents your liver from working normally. As cirrhosis gets worse, your liver begins to fail.
A healthy liver and a liver with cirrhosis.

    Symptoms & Causes
    Cirrhosis has many signs and symptoms, such as fatigue and severe itchy skin. Symptoms may not appear until the liver is badly damaged. Causes include alcohol-associated liver disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic hepatitis C, and chronic hepatitis B.


Diagnosis
    Doctors diagnose cirrhosis based on your medical history, a physical exam, and the results of tests. Tests include blood tests, which can show signs of liver damage or infections; imaging tests; and liver biopsy.

    Treatment
    Doctors do not have specific treatments that can cure cirrhosis. However, they can treat many of the diseases that cause cirrhosis. Treating the underlying causes of cirrhosis may keep cirrhosis from getting worse and may help prevent liver failure.


Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
    If you have cirrhosis, talk with your doctor or a registered dietitian about planning healthy meals. Avoid foods and drinks that can damage the liver, such as raw shellfish and alcohol.

    Clinical Trials
    NIDDK conducts and supports clinical trials in many diseases and conditions, including liver diseases. The trials look to find new ways to prevent, detect, or treat disease and improve quality of life.

    Related Conditions & Diseases
    Autoimmune Hepatitis
    Hepatitis (Viral)
    Hepatitis C
    Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) & Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH)
    Primary Biliary Cholangitis (Primary Biliary Cirrhosis)


Related Diagnostic Tests
    Liver Biopsy


Related Research
    See more about liver diseases research at NIDDK.


Your Digestive System & How It Works
    The digestive system is made up of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract—also called the digestive tract—and the liver, pancreas, and the gallbladder. The GI tract is a series of hollow organs joined in a long, twisting tube from the mouth to the anus.
        Last Reviewed June 2023

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                This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.
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