This condition results in the failure of the liver to perform many of its usual functions. The liver has many functions which include the production of proteins and enzymes. It also is involved in the regulation of cholesterol and storage of energy. The loss of normal liver function in cirrhosis leads to abnormalities in the liver's ability to handle drugs and toxins. The loss of normal liver structure in cirrhosis also interferes with the normal flow of blood through the liver.
Complications resulting from cirrhosis can be serious.
These include internal bleeding, kidney failure, mental confusion, coma, body fluid accumulation, and frequent infections. There are many causes of cirrhosis. Alcohol is a very common cause, particularly in the Western world. The development of cirrhosis in alcohol consumers depends upon the amount and regularity of intake. Those individuals who drink at least eight to sixteen ounces of hard liquor or the equivalent daily for fifteen or more years will develop cirrhosis thirty percent of the time.