A wide range of diseases and conditions can damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis.
• Chronic alcohol abuse
• Chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, C and D)
• Fat accumulating in the liver (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease)
• Iron buildup in the body (hemochromatosis)
• Cystic fibrosis
• Copper accumulated in the liver (Wilson's disease)
• Poorly formed bile ducts (biliary atresia)
• Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency
• Inherited disorders of sugar metabolism (galactosemia or glycogen storage disease)
• Genetic digestive disorder (Alagille syndrome)
• Liver disease caused by your body's immune system (autoimmune hepatitis)
• Destruction of the bile ducts (primary biliary cirrhosis)
• Hardening and scarring of the bile ducts (primary sclerosing cholangitis
• Infection, such as syphilis or brucellosis
• Medications, including methotrexate or isoniazid
Risk factors:
Drinking too much alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for cirrhosis.
Being overweight: Being obese increases your risk of conditions that may lead to cirrhosis, such as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
Having viral hepatitis: Not everyone with chronic hepatitis will develop cirrhosis, but it's one of the world's leading causes of liver disease.
Courtesy: Mayo Clinic