Liver Cirrhosis: Symptoms, Stages, Diagnosis, and Treatment
                     Dr. Punit 
Singla
Liver Transplant and GI 
Surgeon
MBBS, MS, DNB (Surgical 
gastroenterology)

About Liver 
Cirrhosis
What is Liver Cirrhosis?
         Liver cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease, in 
which scar tissues develop on the liver surface and 
prevent normal functioning. It disrupts blood flow 
and slows the ability of the liver to process 
nutrients, hormones, and toxins.
         
        Cirrhosis can be life-threatening because of 
irreversible scarring. The symptoms can be none to 
very mild in an early stage. But as the disease 
progresses over time, there is an accumulation of 
fibrous scar tissue that replaces the healthy liver 
tissue. Regenerative nodules may also form as the 
liver tries to heal itself.  
        Cirrhosis can be seen in the advanced stages 
of Non- alcoholic fatty liver disease and various 
other conditions which lead to liver damage. 
Mostly the scarring caused by Cirrhosis cannot be 
reversed, but proper treatment can help keep it 
under check. Hepatitis B & C, long-term alcohol 
abuse, excess of toxic substances like copper or 
iron in the liver, etc. can be other causes apart 
from NAFLD.
Symptoms & Signs of Liver Cirrhosis
•Itchy skin
•Abdominal swelling
•Swelling in legs
•Fatigue
•Weight loss
•Nausea, vomiting
•Enlarged or swollen veins
•Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)
•Ascites (an abnormal collection of fluid in the tummy)
Stages of Cirrhosis of the Liver
Depending on how well the liver is functioning, there 
are two stages the symptoms of Cirrhosis fall into: 
compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. The 
course of treatment depends on the stage a person is 
in.
•Compensated Cirrhosis: there are no noticeable 
signs of liver disease and no major abnormality in the 
blood tests. There can be a few features of chronic 
liver disease in radiological investigations and liver 
Biopsies.
•Decompensated Cirrhosis: The symptoms and signs 
of chronic liver disease are very noticeable, with 
worsening of blood investigations with obvious 
features of CLD and worsening in radiological tests 
and biopsy (not routinely recommended). The 
chances of at least one life-threatening complication 
are higher in decompensated patients and need 
immediate medical attention. Survival in such 
patients with decompensated cirrhosis is 
approximately 6-12 months.
Diagnosis:-
Your doctor will ask you to undergo various tests and physical 
examinations looking at your past medical history. You may have tests 
such as:
•Blood tests: These include tests to check if your blood is able to clot 
and liver function tests to determine the proper functioning of the 
liver.
•Liver Biopsy: To find out the type of liver disease, small samples are 
taken from your liver with a needle and accessed under a microscope.
•Complete blood count for anemia
You might have to undergo various imaging tests as advised by your 
doctor. Namely:
•Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan
•Abdominal ultrasound
•Elastography
•Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
If the diagnostic tests suggest that you have been suffering from Liver 
Cirrhosis your doctor may suggest a treatment plan with various 
options to slow down the progression of scar tissue buildup and 
prevention/ treatment of any other health issue. Cirrhosis is a 
progressive disease, so the liver damage can sometimes reverse or 
improve if whatever is trigging it is gone.
Treatment
Lifestyle modifications: Changing your lifestyle can not cure cirrhosis 
completely, but can definitely stop it from getting worse. Dietary changes 
must be made, including cutting back on calories and avoiding fast food, 
soda, and big meals. You may detox your body by drinking lots of fluids, 
enjoying healthy snacks, including enough fruits and vegetables in your 
diet, avoiding drinking too much alcohol, and engaging in daily 
exercise. Following the doctor’s recommendations for eating wholesome 
foods and boosting physical activity is crucial.
Diuretics: It boosts urine production, which further aids in eliminating 
any excess water and salt content.
Ammonia Reducer: It aids in lowering the body’s ammonia levels and 
stabilizes its effects.
Beta Blocker: Beta blockers can help reduce the pressure on the eyes 
when used as eye drops. It even helps in bringing down the patient’s 
heart rate and blood pressure.
Antibiotics and Antiviral Drugs: By destroying the bacteria and 
blocking their replication and multiplication, they aid in stopping their 
growth.
But if Cirrhosis has reached a point where treatment is not enough, the 
patient has to go through a transplant.
Prevention
•Do not abuse alcohol. Limit drinking to 2 
drinks for men or 1 drink for women. No 
drinking of alcohol in presence of any liver 
disease.
•Eating a well-balanced, healthy, low-fat 
diet
•Maintain body weight
•Regular exercise
•Avoid high-risk behaviors (IV drug abuse 
and multiple sex partners), that can lead 
to infection with hepatitis
•Get vaccinations for Hepatitis B & C
Thank You