Cirrhosis is a condition of the liver in which healthy liver tissue is replaced by fibrous scar tissue. It's associated with chronic liver disease, which can have many causes, such as alcoholism and hepatitis. There are several tests for cirrhosis and a diagnosis is usually made by evaluating the combination of these results.
Bilirubin
Bilirubin is produced by the liver and this level can increase when the liver becomes cirrhotic. A test of the bilirubin level is a routine blood test with the reference range being between .3 and 1.9 milligrams of bilirubin per deciliter (mg/dl) of blood. A value of up to 34 mg/dl bilirubin can indicate mild cirrhosis, a value between 34 and 50 mg/dl is associated with moderate cirrhosis and a value greater than 50 mg/dl can indicate severe cirrhosis.
Albumin
The serum albumin level is also a routine blood test. Albumin is the most common protein in the blood and is used to maintain an even distribution of fluids within the body. A high albumin level is associated with good liver function and a normal serum albumin level is in the range of 40 to 55 grams per liter (g/l). A value of 35 to 40 g/l may indicate mild cirrhosis, a value of 28 to 35 g/l is associated with moderate cirrhosis and a serum albumin value less than 28 g/l may mean severe cirrhosis.
International Normalized Ratio (INR)
The INR is a measure of the amount of time that it takes for the blood to clot. It's a ratio of the sample's clotting time and the reference clotting time. Low clotting times are associated with good liver function and the normal range is 0.8 to 1.2. Mild cirrhosis may be associated with values between 1.2 and 1.7, an INR between 1.71 and 2.2 can mean moderate cirrhosis and an INR greater than 2.2 may indicate severe cirrhosis.
Ascites
An accumulation of fluid in the peritoneal cavity is formally known as ascites. This condition is usually caused by cirrhosis, although it also has many other causes. Mild ascites is associated with moderate cirrhosis and severe ascites may be indicated by severe ascites.
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Hepatic encephalopathy is a neuropsychiatric disorder caused by elevated levels of toxic substances in the blood. This occurs when the liver begins to lose its ability to remove these substances as fast as they're produced. Hepatic encephalopathy grades 1 and 2 are associated with moderate cirrhosis, and more severe forms of hepatic encephalopathy are associated with severe cirrhosis.
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