Cirrhosis of the liver is liver damage in which the healthy cells are replaced by scar tissue.
Common causes of cirrhosis of the liver include excessive drinking of alcohol, hepatitis B and C virus infections, and fatty liver that's caused by obesity and diabetes.
The 4 stages of cirrhosis of the liver are.
Stage I: Steatosis. The first stage of liver disease is characterized by inflammation of the bile duct or liver.
Stage II: Scarring (fibrosis) of the liver due to inflammation.
Stage III: Cirrhosis.
Stage IV: Liver failure or advanced liver disease or hepatic failure.
Cirrhosis is usually a result of liver damage from conditions such as hepatitis B or C, or chronic alcohol use.
The damage done by cirrhosis typically cannot be undone.
People with cirrhosis in Class A have the best prognosis, with a life expectancy of 15 to 20 years.
People with cirrhosis in Class B are still healthy, with a life expectancy of 6 to 10 years.
Someone with liver failure who is nearing death is described as having end-stage liver disease.
This can cause symptoms such as jaundice, confusion and uncertainty, severe tiredness, a build-up of fluid in the abdomen, shortness of breath, and bleeding easily.
The stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver is a bad stage of liver failure.
When you have stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver you will die within a few weeks to a few months or so without a liver transplant.
If you don't get a liver transplant soon when you have stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver then the liver can completely fail and you'll have end stage liver failure.
Once that happens then you have a shorter time to live.
So you must get a liver transplant soon if possible.
Not everyone can get a liver transplant though so you have to be prepared to die as there's no cure for stage 4 cirrhosis of the liver.
Some stages of liver failure can be reversed but once it progresses too far then there's no cure.