How to Pronounce Autoimmune Cirrhosis

Say it like this: 'aw-toh-ih-MYOON sir-OH-sis.' The stress falls on the third syllable of 'autoimmune' (MYOON) and the second syllable of 'cirrhosis' (OH). It helps to say each part slowly at first, then speed it up.

'Autoimmune' breaks into four syllables: aw-toh-ih-MYOON. 'Cirrhosis' breaks into three syllables: sir-OH-sis. Together, the full term has seven syllables.

Many people stress the wrong syllable in 'autoimmune,' saying 'auto-im-MYOON' instead of 'aw-toh-ih-MYOON.' Others mispronounce 'cirrhosis' as 'sir-o-SIS' (stressing the last syllable) instead of 'sir-OH-sis' (stressing the middle syllable).

'Auto-' comes from Greek and means 'self,' and 'immune' relates to the body's defense system, so 'autoimmune' means the immune system attacks the body's own cells. 'Cirrhosis' comes from Greek 'kirros,' meaning yellowish, and describes scarring and hardening of an organ—in this case, the liver.

In simple terms, it's severe liver scarring that happens when the body's own immune system damages the liver over time. The liver becomes so scarred and stiff that it cannot work properly.

Other 'autoimmune' conditions include autoimmune hepatitis (aw-toh-ih-MYOON hep-uh-TY-tis), autoimmune thyroiditis, and lupus. All of these involve the body's immune system attacking its own tissues.

You might hear: 'The doctor explained that the patient's condition had advanced to autoimmune cirrhosis.' Or: 'Autoimmune cirrhosis develops after years of untreated autoimmune liver disease.'

There is no single standard abbreviation for 'autoimmune cirrhosis,' but it is sometimes part of longer abbreviations for the specific autoimmune liver diseases that cause it, such as AIH (autoimmune hepatitis), PBC (primary biliary cholangitis), or PSC (primary sclerosing cholangitis).