Studies show that a much higher percentage of women, consuming less alcohol than men, go on to cirrhosis. Some patients with chronic viral hepatitis develop cirrhosis. There are five known types of viral hepatitis, each caused by a different virus. In a few of these patients, the chronic hepatitis B progresses to cirrhosis. Many patients may have no symptoms and are found to have cirrhosis by physical examination and laboratory tests, which may have been performed in the course of treatment for unrelated illnesses.
Treatment depends on the type and stage of the cirrhosis.
Stopping or reversing the process requires removal of the cause. Experts estimate that more than half of all liver diseases could be prevented if people acted upon the knowledge we already have. Each year more than 25 million Americans are afflicted with liver and gallbladder diseases and more than 25,000 die of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis. There are few effective treatments for most life-threatening liver diseases, except for liver transplants. Meanwhile, patients and their families must cope with medical, financial and emotional problems.