Final answer:
Cirrhosis is a chronic liver disease characterized by the replacement of liver cells with scar tissue, causing portal hypertension and reduced liver function. Common causes include alcoholism, viral hepatitis, and other liver-toxic conditions. Treatment focuses on preventing progression and managing complications, with liver transplant as a last resort.
Step-by-step explanation:
The chronic disease of the liver in which liver cells are replaced by scar tissue, ultimately leading to loss of liver function, is known as cirrhosis. This condition occurs when the liver is repeatedly damaged, and liver cells die, frequently due to alcoholism, viral hepatitis, or exposure to hepatotoxic chemicals. Over time, the scar tissue obstructs the flow of blood through the liver, resulting in portal hypertension. Consequences of cirrhosis include complications such as ascites, and in severe cases, the only treatment may be a liver transplant since the damage is largely irreversible.
Cirrhosis is a severe condition that can stem from various causes, such as excessive alcohol intake, infections like hepatitis B and C, autoimmune disorders, genetic diseases like haemochromatosis (iron overload), and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. The replacement of damaged liver tissue with scar tissue affects the liver's ability to function properly, impacting its numerous vital roles in metabolism, detoxification, and blood filtration.
As cirrhosis progresses, the liver's ability to perform essential functions declines, which may lead to chronic liver failure. Treatment for cirrhosis focuses on slowing the progression of the disease, managing symptoms, and preventing complications. In advanced stages, a liver transplant can be the only definitive treatment.