There are a few other rare causes. The liver the size of a football weighs 3 pounds. Nearly all the blood from the stomach and intestines passes through the liver. It produces clotting factors, bile, energy-glycogen, blood sugar, and several hormones. Cirrhosis requires lessening many medicines, affects the treatment of diabetes, alters responses to infection and surgery.
Blood tests help make the diagnosis.
Sometimes a needle biopsy is needed. Alcohol damaged liver cells are replaced by scars which distort the liver and blood flow. Cirrhosis is often silent. Patients with symptoms have loss of appetite, nausea, weight loss, enlargement of the liver and later jaundice. If severe, fluid, accumulates in the belly.