[Etiology and clinical aspects of liver cirrhosis]

This review deals with the clinically important aspects of etiology and symptoms of cirrhosis. Apart from alcohol and hepatitis, which are the most frequent etiological factors, also rare causes of cirrhosis are described, because their knowledge is important for the differential diagnosis of cryptogenic cirrhosis. Portal hypertension is the root of most symptoms and complications in cirrhosis. Therefore, a description of the haemodynamic changes precedes the extrahepatic syndromes, of which renal failures, ascites and portal encephalopathy are discussed more in detail.