cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a diffuse fibrosis of the liver, i.e. a disorganisation of the organ’s architecture through fibrous scar tissue. Cirrhosis is accompanied by the gradual death of hepatocytes. It is a classic complication of viral hepatitis B or C that has become chronic, or of long-term alcoholism.
Cirrhosis can evolve over a ten-year period without causing any symptoms but when the liver can no longer function normally, hepatic decompensation occurs. Furthermore, cirrhosis can lead to the development of primary liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma).