Cirrhosis of the liver
In cirrhosis, a chronic progressive disease, normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue, Prolonged, heavy alcohol use is the most common cause, but cirrhosis may also result from hepatitis, inflammation or blockage of the bile ducts, inherited conditions, or a reaction to a drug or environmental toxin.
In its early stages, cirrhosis does not usually produce symptoms, but as the liver is increasingly infiltrated with fibrous tissue, a person may experience fatigue and nausea, and have a poor appetite. In the later stages, jaundice may develop and fine, spidery blood vessels appear on the skin. The liver damage is irreversible, but the progress of cirrhosis can be arrested and the complications treated with diet and other measures,
