Hepatitisandcirrhosisare both diseases that affect the liver.
However, there are a number of important differences between the two.
While some forms of hepatitis may come on very rapidly, cirrhosis also tends to develop more gradually.
Verywell / Gary Ferster
There is a significant overlap between them, as noted below.
There are many drugs that can cause liver dysfunction.
Autoimmune hepatitis.Autoimmune diseasesare those in which our bodies make antibodies against our own tissues.
Toxin or chemical exposures.
Cirrhosis of the Liver
Cirrhosisis the scarring of the liver.
Bile salts can easily build up in the skin, which can lead to jaundice and itching.
Bleeding from the large veins in your GI tract and esophagus may occur.
Toxins can also accumulate in the blood, which can result in confusion and mental slowing.
For those individuals with advanced cirrhosis, the only true treatment for this disease is aliver transplant.
Unfortunately, there are many possiblecomplications of cirrhosis, including liver failure and liver cancer.
The first step that you should consider to reduce the symptoms of cirrhosis is to stop drinking alcohol.
Talwani R, Gilliam BL, Howell C.Infectious diseases and the liver.Clin Liver Dis.
2013;110(6):8591. doi:10.3238/arztebl.2013.0085
Stillman AE.Jaundice.
Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations.
2015;65(635):e418e420.
doi:10.3399/bjgp15X685477
Hilzenrat N, Sherker AH.Esophageal varices: pathophysiology, approach, and clinical dilemmas.Int J Hepatol.
2012;2012:795063. doi:10.1155/2012/795063
Minano C, Garcia-Tsao G.Clinical pharmacology of portal hypertension.Gastroenterol Clin North Am.
Clinical Methods: The History, Physical, and Laboratory Examinations.
Ordonez CA, Puyana JC.Management of peritonitis in the critically ill patient.Surg Clin North Am.
2009;29(5):369377. doi:10.4103/0256-4947.55167
Maher JJ.Exploring alcohol’s effects on liver function.Alcohol Health Res World.
1997;21(1):512.
2011;17(2):RA53RA63.
doi:10.12659/msm.881387
Swain MG.Fatigue in liver disease: pathophysiology and clinical management.Can J Gastroenterol.
2006;20(3):181188. doi:10.1155/2006/624832
Seeger C, Mason WS.Hepatitis B virus biology.Microbiol Mol Biol Rev.
2009;24(4):381387. doi:10.3904/kjim.2009.24.4.381
Bashir A.Liver Toxicity.
StatPearls [Internet].
Osna NA, Donohue TM Jr, Kharbanda KK.Alcoholic Liver Disease: Pathogenesis and Current Management.Alcohol Res.
2017;38(2):147161.
PMID: 28988570
Benedict M, Zhang X.Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: An expanded review.World J Hepatol.
2012;18(22):27562766. doi:10.3748/wjg.v18.i22.2756
Schuppan D, Afdhal NH.Liver cirrhosis.Lancet.
2018;12(8):767-778. doi:10.1080/17474124.2018.1496016
Meseeha M, Attia M.Alpha 1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.
In:StatPearls[Internet].
2015;21(41):1152211541. doi:10.3748/wjg.v21.i41.11522
Brenner DA.Reversibility of liver fibrosis.Gastroenterol Hepatol (N Y).
2013;9(11):737739.
2017;15(10):15211530.e8.
2012;81(1):3036.
2012;5(3):199207. doi:10.1177/1756283X11430859
Mitchell O, Feldman DM, Diakow M, Sigal SH.
The pathophysiology of thrombocytopenia in chronic liver disease.Hepat Med.
Harrison’s Principles of Internal Medicine.
New York: Mc Graw Hill education.
