What happens in end-stage liver disease?
End-stage hepatitis C means the liver has been severely damaged by the hepatitis C virus. The hepatitis C virus slowly damages the liver — often over the course of several decades. In some people, this long-term hepatitis C damage may eventually cause permanent scarring of the liver (cirrhosis). People with cirrhosis can go on to develop liver failure or liver cancer. Signs and symptoms of end-stage liver disease or liver cancer may include: • Fatigue • Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice) • Loss of appetite • Nausea • Abdominal pain • Abdominal swelling due to fluid accumulation (ascites) In addition to liver failure or cancer, people with cirrhosis may also develop: • Gastrointestinal bleeding due to enlarged veins in the esophagus (esophageal varices) • Brain and nervous system damage due to the accumulation of toxins in the bloodstream (hepatic encephalopathy) The treatment for people with end-stage liver disease is a liver transplant. During a liver t
