COMPLICATIONS OF LIVER CIRRHOSIS

Cirrhosis represents the irreversible end stage of chronic liver injury characterized by fibrosis and loss of normal hepatic architecture, which leads to systemic complications.This article looks into the common problems linked to cirrhosis, i.e., portal hypertension, ascites, hepatorenal syndrome, esophageal varices, and hepatic encephalopathy.Portal hypertension stands as the most devastating and life-threatening complication, producing variceal bleeding and ascites.The rupture of esophageal varices is a life-threatening hemorrhagic event, while the hepatic encephalopathy explains the neuropsychiatric burden posed by ammonia build-up and neuroinflammation.In addition, cirrhosis, along with other comorbidities such as metabolic dysfunctionassociated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), type 2 diabetes, and hepatocellular carcinoma, shows its multifactorial effect on morbidity and mortality.Therefore, in this review, this series of complications emphasizes their early diagnosis, lifestyle changes, and medical/interventional management to allow patients better survival.Novel diagnostic and therapeutic advances are ever-growing, casting a ray of hope to change liver cirrhosis from a death sentence to a manageable disorder.