Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a complication of many chronic liver conditions. Cirrhosis is characterized by fibrosis which displaces hepatocytes and distorts the normal liver architecture. Cirrhosis results from repeated hepatocyte injury and stellate cell activation.

If hepatocyte regeneration is slower than the deposition of fibrous scar tissue, the remaining hepatocytes continue to regenerate, but they become entrapped in bands of fibrous scar tissue, forming nodules.  As the fibrous tissue increases in amount the normal architecture is destroyed. Extensive bridging of fibrous tissue obliterates the normal portal tract to central vein architecture of the lobule. This pattern is termed cirrhosis.

The destruction of the normal architecture impairs blood flow. A higher pressure is required to pass the blood through the remaining functional units causing increased portal pressure. Increased portal pressure at the points of interfaces with the systemic venous system causes esophageal varices, hemorrhoids and venous abnormalities (Tissupath n.d.).

Common causes of cirrhosis include:

• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Chronic viral hepatitis
• Repeated exposure to toxic chemicals
• Chronic cholestatic diseases, such as primary biliary cirrhosis and sclerosing cholangitis
• Metabolic disorders such as hemachromatosis, Wilson's disease, and alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Malignancies, such as hepatocellular carcinoma

References:

Blog. TissuPath. (n.d.). Retrieved November 11, 2021, from https://tissupath.com.au/education-medical-student-liver/.

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