Cirrhosis is caused by scar tissue that forms in the liver due to repeated damage over many years. Diseases and conditions that damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis include chronic alcohol abuse, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, destruction of the bile ducts, fat that accumulates in the liver, being overweight, iron build-up in the body, liver disease (autoimmune hepatitis), bilharzia, glycogen storage disease and too much copper and other heavy metals in the liver.
Attribution: Straight Talk Foundation