Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chronic liver disease: Cirrhosis is a serious medical condition characterized by the progressive and irreversible scarring of the liver tissue. This scarring disrupts the liver's normal structure and impairs its ability to function properly.
   • A condition often linked to chronic damage: The primary causes include chronic alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis (especially hepatitis B and C), and fatty liver disease. The scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue, blocking blood flow and preventing the liver from working normally.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The doctor diagnosed him with cirrhosis after years of excessive drinking.
  • Advanced cirrhosis can lead to liver failure and requires a transplant.
  • Viral hepatitis is a leading cause of cirrhosis worldwide.

Advanced Usage

• "Compensated cirrhosis": A stage where the liver is scarred but can still perform its essential functions. Symptoms may be mild or absent.

  • Patients with compensated cirrhosis often manage the condition with medication and lifestyle changes.

• "Decompensated cirrhosis": A severe stage where the liver fails, leading to serious complications like jaundice, internal bleeding, or fluid buildup in the abdomen (ascites).

  • The patient was hospitalized due to complications from decompensated cirrhosis.

Variants and Related Words

• Cirrhotic (adj): Pertaining to or affected by cirrhosis.
  • The biopsy confirmed cirrhotic changes in the liver tissue.

Synonyms

• Liver fibrosis: A general term for scarring of the liver, though cirrhosis specifically refers to advanced, widespread scarring.
• Hepatic cirrhosis: A more formal medical term for the disease.

Related Phrases

• "Cirrhosis of the liver": The full, explicit term for the condition, often used for clarity.
  • The official cause of death was listed as cirrhosis of the liver.

Related Idioms

(Note: There are no common idioms directly using the word "cirrhosis" due to its specific medical nature. It is typically used in clinical or serious contexts.)

Noun

1. a chronic disease interfering with the normal functioning of the liver; the major cause is chronic alcoholism