cirrhosis

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cirrhosis (si-roh-sis) n. a condition in which the liver responds to injury or death of some of its cells by producing interlacing strands of fibrous tissue between which are nodules of regenerating cells. Causes include alcoholism (alcoholic c.), viral hepatitis (postnecrotic c.), chronic obstruction of the common bile duct (secondary biliary c.), autoimmune diseases (primary biliary c., PBC), and chronic heart failure (cardiac c.). Complications include portal hypertension, ascites, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatoma.
—cirrhotic adj.

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