Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a condition in which the liver slowly deteriorates and malfunctions due to chronic injury. Scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, partially blocking the flow of blood through the liver.

What is Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is a severe form of liver disease wherein normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue (fibrous tissue).

What Causes Cirrhosis?

Managing and Treating Cirrhosis

Liver Disease Symptoms

Vitamin E significantly improves liver health in MASH patients, new study finds

A 96-week clinical trial found that 300 mg of Vitamin E significantly improved liver histology and reduced inflammation in patients with MASH, with no major safety concerns reported.

19 Feb 2025

Novel therapeutic approaches targeting the Wnt pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the deadliest cancers globally, with increasing incidence and mortality rates.

19 Feb 2025

Traffic-related air pollution may raise the risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease

Long-term exposure to low levels of traffic-related air pollution harms the liver and may raise the risk of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease, a new study in mice suggests.

31 Jan 2025

HMB supplement trial explores new treatment for chronic liver disease

A dietary supplement used to build muscle – or prevent muscle loss as a result of ageing or illness – is to be trialled as a potential treatment for chronic liver disease.

28 Jan 2025

Bariatric surgery reduces liver complications in obese patients with cirrhosis

A Cleveland Clinic study shows that patients with obesity and fatty liver-related cirrhosis who had bariatric (weight-loss) surgery significantly lowered their future risk of developing serious liver complications compared with patients who received medical therapy alone.

27 Jan 2025

CDC report reveals COPD as the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S.

Chronic lower respiratory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), are the sixth leading cause of death in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

21 Jan 2025

Evaluating biomarkers for diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy in cirrhotic patients

The performance of neurodegenerative biomarkers-neurofilament light chain (NfL), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), tau, and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCHL1)-in diagnosing minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE) has not been systematically evaluated, simultaneously, nor have their associations with the development of overt hepatic encephalopathy (OHE).

17 Jan 2025

Exploring the role of EpCAM in early-stage hepatocellular carcinoma progression

Announcing a new publication for Acta Materia Medica journal. Epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) is a biomarker for epithelial cell-derived tumors.

17 Jan 2025

Alcohol consumption increases risks of cirrhosis and HCC in patients with HBV infection

The quantitative effects of alcohol consumption on cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are unknown.

16 Jan 2025

KFF Health News' 'What the Health?': Francis Collins on supporting NIH and finding common ground

This week, KFF Health News' "What the Health?" presents a conversation with Francis Collins, former National Institutes of Health director and White House science adviser.

2 Jan 2025

Shiitake-based supplement may help prevent liver damage progression

AHCC demonstrates potential in preventing liver fibrosis progression by inhibiting HSC activation and regulating key pathways involved in liver injury.

20 Dec 2024

AHCC supplement shows potential in protecting the liver from fibrosis

Chronic liver damage can lead to hepatitis, which causes fibrosis of the liver. This buildup of collagen and other fibrous tissue accelerates when hepatic stellate cells become activated during hepatitis, often resulting in liver cancer or cirrhosis, both of which can be fatal.

19 Dec 2024

New drug approach shows promise in treating metabolic liver diseases

A MedUni Vienna study has identified a new approach to the drug treatment of metabolic liver diseases. In an experimental study, pharmacological inhibition of an enzyme that plays a central role in fat metabolism promoted liver health reduced liver fat, inflammation and fibrotic remodeling (connective tissue scarring).

18 Dec 2024

Revolutionizing MASLD treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists

Researchers explore the therapeutic potential and clinical insights of GP1-RAs in the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

16 Dec 2024

A novel approach to prevent severe liver disease in diabetes

New research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden highlights the possibility of screening people with type 2 diabetes for liver damage at the same time as they undergo screening for eye disease. The study is published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

13 Dec 2024

New hepatitis B vaccine offers superior protection for people with HIV

A newer vaccine against hepatitis B virus was clearly superior to an older vaccine type in inducing a protective antibody response among people living with HIV who didn't respond to prior vaccination, according to the results of an international study led by a Weill Cornell Medicine investigator.

11 Dec 2024

Systematic review and meta-analysis of coronary artery disease in liver cirrhosis

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is increasingly observed in patients with liver cirrhosis. However, data on the incidence and prevalence of CAD in cirrhotic patients are heterogeneous, and the association remains uncertain.

10 Dec 2024

Two distinct types of fatty liver disease identified

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet and the University of Gothenburg have identified two types of metabolic-associated fatty liver disease - a liver-specific type and a systemic type that affects other organs and tissues.

10 Dec 2024

Tea, apples, and chocolate proven to support liver health

A flavonoid-rich diet, including apples, tea, and dark chocolate, significantly lowers the risk of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and improves liver health biomarkers. These findings highlight the potential of dietary flavonoids in combating liver fat accumulation and inflammation.

9 Dec 2024

Two new subtypes of MASH revealed with different risks and outcomes

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), formerly referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), impacts roughly 30% of the global adult population.

9 Dec 2024