Liver Disease

• Hepatitis C: Your Risk for Cirrhosis

  Up to 85% of people who are infected with the hepatitis C virus will develop long-term (chronic) infection. About 25% of people who have chronic hepatitis C will go on to develop cirrhosis—severe liver damage and scarring—after a period of...

• Cirrhosis Complications: Spontaneous Bacterial Peritonitis

  People who have cirrhosis are at risk for an infection in the fluid (ascites) that builds up in the abdominal cavity. Spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is an infection of ascitic fluid that occurs without warning or a clear cause. SBP most...

• Endoscopic Treatment for Variceal Bleeding Caused by Cirrhosis

  In people who have cirrhosis, high pressure in the veins that carry blood from the intestines to the liver (portal hypertension) causes many problems. Variceal bleeding—bleeding from enlarged veins (varices) in the digestive tract—is an extremely...

• Cirrhosis: Surgical Shunts for Portal Hypertension

  Shunt surgeries are designed to redirect the flow of blood or abdominal fluid through other areas of the body. Shunts are rarely used because of the complications they may cause. They are done only in medical centers where the surgeon is experienced in doing the procedures. Peritoneovenous shunts. These...

• Cirrhosis: Beta-Blockers for Portal Hypertension and Varices

  In people who have cirrhosis, portal hypertension causes many problems. One serious complication is bleeding of enlarged veins, or varices, in the digestive tract (variceal bleeding). When the buildup of scar tissue caused by cirrhosis reduces the...

• Ascites and Cirrhosis

  Fluid buildup in the abdominal cavity (ascites) is the most common major complication of cirrhosis. But it's important to get treatment. People who have alcoholic cirrhosis may develop ascites early in the course of liver disease. Those who have...

• Cirrhosis Complications: Encephalopathy

  When the liver has been damaged by cirrhosis, it may not be able to filter poisons from the bloodstream, especially substances in the blood produced by bacteria in the large intestine. As a result, these substances (which include ammonia) may build...

• Cirrhosis Complications: Variceal Bleeding

  In people who have cirrhosis, high blood pressure in the veins that carry blood from the intestines to the liver (portal hypertension) causes many problems. One serious complication of portal hypertension is variceal bleeding. When blood pressure...

• Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) for Cirrhosis

  Transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) is a procedure that may be used to reduce portal hypertension and its complications, especially variceal bleeding. A TIPS procedure may be done by a radiologist, who places a small wire-mesh coil...

• Cirrhosis

  Discusses serious condition in which scarring damages the liver. Looks at causes, including heavy alcohol use, autoimmune chronic hepatitis, and chronic viral hepatitis. Covers symptoms like fluid buildup in the belly called ascites. Discusses transplant.

• Milk Thistle

  Milk thistle is a plant that contains silymarin, a substance that improves liver function. Originally from Europe, milk thistle now also grows in the United States. You can take milk thistle in capsules or as a tincture (combined with alcohol). It...

• Cirrhosis: Vasoconstrictor Medicines for Variceal Bleeding

  Medicines that constrict small blood vessels and reduce blood flow to the portal vein are used to treat sudden (acute) bleeding from enlarged veins (varices) in the digestive tract ( variceal bleeding). Octreotide is the main medicine used in the United States to treat variceal bleeding. These medicines also may be...