Cirrhosis

What is Cirrhosis?                                                                                                                 

Cirrhosis is the term used for scarring throughout the liver. While a healthy liver can regenerate, a liver with cirrhosis can lose its ability to regenerate, or grow back. There are many causes for cirrhosis, not just alcohol, and the team at Atrium Health Gastroenterology and Hepatology can help identify the cause.

Diagnosis

In the early stages of cirrhosis, there may be no symptoms and blood work may appear normal.

Atrium Health Digestive Health diagnostic screenings may include:

• A liver biopsy
• A series of blood tests
• Imaging studies, such as ultrasound, CT scan or MRI.

Your provider may need to run additional tests to determine your degree of cirrhosis.  As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

• Fatigue
• Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes or skin)
• Fluid retention in the abdomen (ascites)
• Vomiting blood (varices)
• Confusion or disorientation (encephalopathy)

Treatment

In many cases, we treat complications that are due to cirrhosis using diuretics or fluid pills. Many of our board-certified liver specialists have received additional training in treating cirrhosis and can identify patients who may benefit from a liver transplant. We also participate in educational and research activities and are able to offer patients the latest, most effective treatments and therapies. To learn more, please visit our Research and Clinical Trials page.

Locations Providing Cirrhosis Care

Morehead Medical Plaza
1025 Morehead Medical Drive, Suite 600
Charlotte, NC 28204
Phone: 704-355-6649
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