Cirrhosis is a condition in which large areas of the liver become badly scarred due to liver injuries, including alcohol abuse and hepatitis C. This disease causes scar tissue to replace normal, healthy tissue. As a result, the scar tissue blocks the flow of blood through the liver and prevents it from working properly. Cirrhosis of the liver is the 12th leading cause of death by disease, killing approximately 26,000 people per year. Liver damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but treatment can stop or delay further progression and reduce complications.