cirrhosis

[si-roh-sis]

noun

Pathology.

1. a disease of the liver characterized by increase of connective tissue and alteration in gross and microscopic makeup.

cirrhosis

/ sɪˈrɒtɪk, sɪˈrəʊsɪs /

noun

1. Also called: cirrhosis of the liver. any of various progressive diseases of the liver, characterized by death of liver cells, irreversible fibrosis, etc: caused by inadequate diet, excessive alcohol, chronic infection, etc

cirrhosis

1. A chronic disease of the liver characterized by the replacement of normal tissue with scar tissue and the loss of functional liver cells. It is most commonly caused by chronic alcohol abuse, but can also result from nutritional deprivation or infection, especially by the hepatitis virus.

cirrhosis

1. A chronic disease of the liver, characterized by replacement of normal liver cells with a form of connective tissue. Owing to the scarring caused by this disease, irreversible damage to the liver can result.

Cirrhosis is often associated with alcoholism.

Other Word Forms

• cirrhosed adjective
• cirrhotic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of cirrhosis¹

1830–40; < Greek kirrh ( ós ) orange-tawny + -osis

Word History and Origins

Origin of cirrhosis¹

C19: New Latin, from Greek kirrhos orange-coloured + _-osis ; referring to the appearance of the diseased liver

Example Sentences

When scientists studied women with such diseases, they often found fetal cells in the affected organs: the skin in scleroderma, the liver in biliary cirrhosis, the joints in rheumatoid arthritis and lupus.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"It's linked to at least 20 cancers, infertility, osteoarthritis and fatty liver - now one of the leading causes of cirrhosis," says Dr Lakhdawala.

Read more on BBC

If you get the disease as an adult, you have a 5% chance of developing cirrhosis—chronic liver disease—or liver cancer, says Offit.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

That means a lifelong threat of cirrhosis or other deadly liver conditions.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“After years of alcohol abuse, I was diagnosed with cirrhosis of the liver,” McCarthy said on Instagram last year.

Read more on Los Angeles Times