Liver Cirrhosis

Liver cirrhosis occurs when healthy liver cells are replaced with scar tissue, preventing the liver from functioning properly. These scar tissues are formed as a result of long-term damage to the liver – excessive alcohol abuse, hepatitis B and C infection, or fatty liver from diabetes and obesity.

During the early stages of liver cirrhosis, there might be no symptoms. Over time, patients might experience some of the following symptoms: Fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, jaundice, and nausea.7

If left untreated, complications may develop, such as:

Increased blood pressure in the portal vein (portal hypertension)
Abdominal fluid accumulation (ascites)
Fluid build-up in the legs and feet (edema)
Enlarged blood vessels (varices)
Brain dysfunction (hepatic encephalopathy)
Increased risk of liver cancer

Treatments for Liver Cirrhosis

If a patient has cirrhosis, it means that their liver has reached the stage where it can no longer regenerate.

Liver transplant is the only curative option for liver cirrhosis, but not all patients may be eligible for one. Healthy livers are obtained from deceased or living donors. In Singapore, deceased liver donors are people who have not opted out of the Human Organ Transplant Act (HOTA) or have opted in for the Medical Therapy, Education and Research Act (MTERA).

There are also treatments to manage liver cirrhosis symptoms and slow its scarring progress. Patients might also be advised to stop drinking alcohol, and change their lifestyle habits if they are generally unhealthy or overweight.

Dr Victor Lee and Dr Ek Khoon Tan have more than 40 years of experience treating liver cancer, colorectal liver metastases, and other liver tumours. We believe that dedication, skill, and multidisciplinary care is key to achieving optimal outcomes.

For more information, call us at

6737 8878

Mount Elizabeth Orchard

6475 1488

Gleneagles Hospital

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