Cirrhosis: Reviewing the Literature and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Cirrhosis is the final stage of chronic liver disease and has many causes, including viral hepatitis, excessive alcohol intake, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. When decompensated cirrhosis develops, complications occur that affect quality of life and patient survival. Cirrhosis has a large burden of disease and is responsible for almost 2% of deaths in Europe. Cirrhotic patients are in need of early diagnosis and a careful follow-up for the prevention and detection of complications. The ultimate treatment for end-stage cirrhosis is liver transplantation. This review will cover clinical aspects of cirrhosis and uncover future trends in the care of these patients.