[Chronic viral hepatitis: protocol proposal for the management of cirrhosis]

Cirrhosis is the terminal phase of hepatic fibrosis, that leads to impaired hepatic function and blood flow. Liver cirrhosis is the final stage of many hepatic diseases characterized by chronic cellular destruction. The complications of liver cirrosis are the result of the hepatocellular lesion and portal hypertension. The most frequent complications are ascites, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, gastroesophageal varices, portal hypertensive gastropathy, hypersplenism, hepatocellular carcinoma, methabolic disorders, hepatorenal syndrome and hepatopulmonary syndrome. We review the current approach of cirrhosis and its complications in order to improve the prevention and therapeutics of this frequent disease.