Which condition is marked by chronic degeneration of the liver?

Cirrhosis is recognized as a chronic degenerative condition of the liver characterized by the progressive replacement of healthy liver tissue with scar tissue. This fibrosis results from long-term damage to the liver, which can arise from various factors such as chronic alcohol abuse, viral hepatitis, or metabolic disorders. The process of cirrhosis alters liver function and structure, leading to complications like liver failure and portal hypertension.

The other conditions listed do not specifically indicate the same chronic degenerative process of the liver as cirrhosis. Hepatitis refers to inflammation of the liver, which can be acute or chronic but does not inherently imply degeneration of liver tissue. Fibrosis indicates scarring of the liver tissue but is more of an earlier stage that can lead to cirrhosis, rather than being synonymous with it. Steatosis, commonly known as fatty liver, is characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells and may be a reversible condition rather than a chronic degeneration. Thus, cirrhosis is the distinctive condition that aligns with the chronic degenerative status of the liver.