The stages of long term liver disease

Most types of long term (chronic) liver disease develop in stages over many years.

Many people do not know they have a liver condition until it reaches a late stage (cirrhosis). At this point, they can become very unwell and there may be very few treatment options.

But if liver disease is found at an earlier stage, the damage can often be stopped or even reversed.

The information on this page is for:

Adults and children with long term liver disease
Family, friends, carers, and healthcare professionals.

Liver disease can be caused by many things. In adults the most common are alcohol, being overweight, viral hepatitis and autoimmune liver conditions.

In some people, these cause a build-up of fat in the liver (fatty liver) which may then lead to further liver damage.

If the damage is not stopped it may lead to an increase in inflammation in the liver (hepatitis). Then possibly to scarring of the liver (fibrosis). Over time this can cause severe scarring (cirrhosis).

Children with a liver condition are often born with the problem that causes it. So their condition might get worse more quickly.

It is possible for most people with a fatty liver, hepatitis, or fibrosis to stop their condition getting worse. Or even get their liver back to normal if the damage is at an early stage. This can be done by taking away or treating whatever is causing the liver damage. For example by having treatment for viral hepatitis, getting surgery for problems with bile ducts, giving up alcohol, or losing weight.

Even after cirrhosis develops, it is possible to stop it from getting worse. This can help the liver to carry on doing all its important jobs. People can potentially live for many years with cirrhosis.

But if cirrhosis gets worse it can lead to severe complications or liver cancer. Sadly every day 27 adults in the UK die from liver diseases, including cirrhosis

Find out more about the stages of liver disease

What is fatty liver?

What is hepatitis?

What is fibrosis?

What is cirrhosis?

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This content was last reviewed: June 2024

Our expert reviewers:

We would like to thank everyone who helped with creating and reviewing this page. Including Professor Jonathan Fallowfield, Chair of Translational Liver Research & Principal Investigator, Institute for Regeneration & Repair, University of Edinburgh. And all our patient reviewers.

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Everyone’s experience of liver disease will be different. Always talk to your specialist medical team for personal advice.