https://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-fibrosis.htm
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Fibrosis is the formation of excess fibrous tissues or scar tissue, usually because of injury or long-term inflammation. The two most well-known types of this condition are pulmonary fibrosis, which affects the lungs; and cystic fibrosis (CF), which affects the mucus glands. There also are many other types, including those that affect the heart, skin, joints and bone marrow. Cirrhosis of the liver also is a type of this condition.
Causes
There are many potential causes of this condition. It is sometimes caused by disease or the treatment of a disease. Other causes include injuries, burns, radiation, chemotherapy and gene mutation. Some types of this condition are idiopathic, which means that the causes are unknown.
Effects
Fibrosis causes the affected tissues to harden. They sometimes also swell. These changes can make the tissues unable to function properly. For example, the flow of fluids through the affected tissues is often reduced. When the condition is present in the lungs, they are unable to expand as normal, causing a shortness of breath.