Cirrhosis

Quick summary – cirrhosis

• Cirrhosis is permanent scarring of the liver caused by damage over a long time.
• Cirrhosis is a later stage in many types of liver disease.
• It is a serious condition, but many people don’t know they have it and feel well.
• Many people with cirrhosis will not die from it.
• Cirrhosis is usually diagnosed using blood tests and scans.
• There are different stages of cirrhosis.
• ‘Compensated’ or stable liver cirrhosis is when the liver has permanent scarring but is working OK. Your body is able to cope with the damaged liver.
• People with compensated cirrhosis might not feel ill. You can live for years with compensated cirrhosis.
• ‘Decompensated’ liver cirrhosis means that your body is no longer coping with the scarring, and your liver is not able to function properly.
• Cirrhosis can go from compensated to decompensated in different ways. This can be hard to predict. It can be caused by triggers such as infections or alcohol intake.
• People with decompensated cirrhosis can be very unwell. They may have complications that affect other parts of their body. They often need urgent treatment.
• It is often possible to slow down compensated cirrhosis to stop it becoming decompensated. Usually by stopping or treating whatever is causing the damage.
• It is also possible to reverse decompensation. Usually by treating the cause of the liver damage or the trigger.
• The only cure for cirrhosis is a liver transplant. Not everyone will need or be able to have a transplant.
• Other treatment is focused on helping with symptoms and managing complications.

About this information

Our information aims to be clear, up-to-date, and useful. We work with people living with liver disease and expert clinicians to make our information.

Everyone’s experience of cirrhosis will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.

Find our how we make our patient information

If you would like a printed copy of our information please get in touch using the contact details at the end of the page.

Special thanks:

We would like to thank all of the medical specialists, and people with personal experience of cirrhosis who helped us to plan, develop, and review this information.

Including, Dr Vishal Patel, Consultant Hepatologist, Kings College hospital, Dr Victoria Kronsten, Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Hepatology, King’s College Hospital, Katharine Caddick, Consultant Nurse, North Bristol Trust, Maria-Emanuela Maxan, Senior Clinical Research Fellow in Hepatology, King’s College Hospital and Claire Smith, Hepatology Clinical Nurse Specialist.

Publication date: February 2025

Next review: February 2028