Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis refers to the
replacement of normal liver
tissue with scar tissue
Why is the liver
important?
The liver is the largest internal organ, located
mainly in the upper right portion of the abdomen
and above your stomach.
The liver is responsible for filtering out harmful
substance in the body, cleaning the blood and
making vital nutrients.
Every nutrient we consume must pass through the
liver so that it can be transformed into a different
biochemical form.
Within the organ, there are bile ducts, which
produce bile and help break down fats.
lorem ipsum dolor
Causes of Cirrhosis
issue, date
Cirrhosis is caused by scar tissue that forms on the liver due to damage
over many years. Each time the liver is damaged it tries to repair itself,
and scar tissue forms. As the scar tissue builds up, liver function
worsens.
Chronic Alcoholism
Bile Duct Disease
Chronic alcoholism is the leading cause
of cirrhosis in the United States.
Drinking too much alcohol can cause the
liver to swell, which over time can lead
to cirrhosis. The amount of alcohol that
causes cirrhosis is different for each
person.
Bile duct disease limits or stops bile from
flowing to the small intestine. The bile
backs up in the liver causing the liver to
swell and can lead to cirrhosis.
Chronic Viral Hepatitis
Chronic hepatitis C is the second leading
cause of cirrhosis in the United States.
Hepatitis C causes the liver to swell,
which over time can lead to cirrhosis.
About one in four people with chronic
hepatitis C develop cirrhosis. Chronic
hepatitis B and hepatitis D also can
cause cirrhosis.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Fat build up in the liver that is not
caused by alcohol use, is nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease, which can cause the
liver to swell and can lead to cirrhosis.
Genetic Disorders
Some genetic disorders can lead to
cirrhosis. These include:
 Iron buildup in the body
(hemochromatosis)
 Cystic Fibrosis
 Copper accumulated in the liver
(Wilson’s disease)
 Inherited disorders of sugar
metabolism (galactosemia,
glycogen storage disease)
 Liver disease caused by your
body’s immune system
(autoimmune hepatitis)
*Up to 20% of people with cirrhosis
don’t have an identifiable cause for
the condition (cryptogenic cirrhosis)
2
lorem ipsum dolor
issue, date
Signs and Symptoms
Cirrhosis commonly has no signs and
symptoms until liver damage is extensive.
 Fatigue
 Bleeding easily
 Bruising easily
 Itchy skin
 Yellow discoloration of the
skin and eyes (jaundice)
 Fluid accumulation in your
abdomen (ascites)
 Loss of appetite
 Nausea
 Swelling in your legs
(edema)
 Weight loss
 Mental changes
 Abdominal pain
 Enlarged liver
3
Complications of
Cirrhosis
lorem ipsum dolor
issue, date
High blood pressure in the liver
Cirrhosis slows the normal flow
of blood through the liver,
increasing pressure in the vein
that brings blood from the
intestines and spleen to the liver
Swelling in the legs and
abdomen
High blood pressure in the liver
can cause fluid to accumulate in
the legs and the abdomen. This
fluid accumulation may result
from the inability of the liver to
make certain blood proteins
High levels of toxins in the
blood
A damaged liver is unable to
effectively clear toxins from the
blood. These toxins can cause
mental confusion and problems
concentrating. Over time, this
can lead to a coma.
Infection
The body might have a difficult
time fighting infections if the liver
isn’t working properly
Bleeding
High blood pressure in the liver
can cause blood to be redirected
to smaller veins the smaller
veins may burst and cause
bleeding
Malnutrition
Cirrhosis may make it more
difficult for the body to process
nutrients, leading to weakness
and weight loss. Diet tips are
provided on page 5
Jaundice
Jaundice is the yellowing of
the skin, white of the eyes or
darkening of the urine. It can
be caused when the liver
doesn’t remove enough
bilirubin, a blood waste
product, from the blood.
4
lorem ipsum dolor
Treatment
issue, date
Treatment for cirrhosis depends on the cause and
extent of your liver damage. The goals of
treatment are to slow the progression of scar
tissue in the liver and to prevent or treat
symptoms and complications of cirrhosis.
Treatment for alcohol dependency: People with cirrhosis
caused by alcohol abuse need to stop drinking. If stopping alcohol use is
difficult, your doctor may recommend a treatment program for alcohol
addiction.
Weight loss: People with cirrhosis caused by nonalcoholic
fatty liver disease need to lose weight and control their blood sugar
levels.
Medications to control hepatitis: Medications may control
damage to liver cells caused by hepatitis B or C.
Medications to control other causes and symptoms of cirrhosis:
Medications may slow the progression of certain types of liver
cirrhosis. For example, people with primary biliary cirrhosis that is
diagnosed and treated early may never experience symptoms.
Liver transplant surgery: In advanced cases of cirrhosis, a liver
Nutrition Therapy
Nutrition care for cirrhosis is customized to each patient’s needs, which vary
considerably and depend on the accompanying complications
Energy

Energy needs may range from 20-40% above normal
Meal Frequency

Protein

Carboydrate

Fat
Sodium and Fluid


Vitamins and minerals

To improve food intake, patients should consume small meals
four to six times dialy
Provide 0.8-1.2 grams of protein per kilogram of dry body weight
per day to maintain nitrogen balance and to prevent wasting
No carbohydrate restrictions unless the patient has insulin
resistance or diabetes
No fat restrictions unless fat malabsorption is present
Restrict sodium as necessary to control ascietes; 2000 mg of
sodium per day is adequte restriction in most cases
Ensure adequate intake from diet or supplements based on
individual needs
5
For more information visit
these helpful websites!
http://www.liverfoundation.org/aboutthe
liver/info/cirrhosis/
http://www.uptodate.com/contents/cirrh
osis-beyond-the-basics
http://www.mayoclinic.org/cirrhosis/
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/
pubs/cirrhosis_ez/