Liver Diseases & Hepatology

Liver Fibrosis

Liver fibrosis is a process in which the healthy tissue of the liver is gradually replaced by scar tissue, a type of connective tissue. It is a response to various forms of liver injury and inflammation, often resulting from chronic liver diseases such as viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and autoimmune liver diseases. When the liver is repeatedly injured or inflamed over time, the body's natural healing response involves the activation of cells called hepatic stellate cells. These cells produce excessive amounts of collagen and other proteins, leading to the accumulation of scar tissue within the liver. As fibrosis progresses, the liver's structure and function can be compromised.