What causes Cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis occurs when cells in the liver are damaged and scar tissue forms. This scar tissue causes blood flow to be blocked and waste products to build up in the body.

Causes of cirrhosis include:

• Excessive consumption of alcohol
• Hepatitis C , B and D
• Autoimmune hepatitis
• Inherited diseases:
  • Glycogen storage disease
  • Galactosemia
  • Fructose intolerance
  • Tyrosinemia
  • Hemochromatosis
  • Wilson's disease
  • Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency
  • Cystic fibrosis
• Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), associated with:
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Heart disease
  • High blood triglycerides
  • Steroid use
• Bile duct blockages, associated with:
  • Congenital defects
  • Scarred ducts
  • Gallbladder surgery
  • Pancreatitis
• Drugs and toxins:
  • Arsenic
  • Isoniazid
  • Methotrexate
  • Excess vitamin A
• Infections:
  • Schistosomiasis
  • Brucellosis
  • Echinococcosis
  • Advanced or congenital syphilis
• Heart failure, causing blood to repeatedly back up into the liver