What are prognosis of liver cirrhosis?

Cirrhosis is late stage liver disease characterized by scarring of the liver. Cirrhosis prognosis and life expectancy depend on individual medical history, lifestyle, and medical care. People with a diagnosis of early-stage cirrhosis may live another 9 to 12 years. People with a late-stage cirrhosis diagnosis may live another two years.

Liver cirrhosis is generally classified into two stages:
1. Compensated.
2. Decompensated.

Compensated cirrhosis is an earlier stage. People with compensated cirrhosis do not yet have any complications of liver disease. People with compensated cirrhosis can remain in this stage for many years, especially if they take good care of their liver and overall health.

People with decompensated cirrhosis are generally sicker than those with compensated cirrhosis. People with decompensated cirrhosis may have any combination of or all of these conditions:

1. Ascites (an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen that causes belly swelling)

2. Jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes)

3. Bleeding in the esophagus, stomach, or intestines

4. Mental confusion caused by the buildup of toxins normally filtered by the liver