My husbands liver biopsy showed ''cicken wire'' fibrosis bridging cirrhosis but was not staged. also mentioned something about ballooning. ideas?

Stage 4: If the pathologist is using the term "cirrhosis" by definition it's stage 4. Chicken wire may refer to mild fibrotic bands rather than thick bands and is potentially reversible depending on the cause. Ballooning can be seen in alcoholic liver disease as well as fatty liver disease known as NASH which is seen in non-alcoholics. Can also see in some viral liver diseases implying an acute process.

Yes: My hope is that he will be able to stop drinking. If he has concurrent liver disease from any cause, I hope this will also be addressed. Only he has the power to stop. THis kind of thing can regress on achieving sobriety, at least in part.

Steatohepatitis: Your husband has Steatohepatitis. Chicken-wire or pericentral fibrosis is a term which defines Steatohepatitis. Bridging cirrhosis, under the Brunt classification, can be considered stage 4, among liver pathologists. Ballooning refers to ballooning denegeration, a marker of individual liver cell injury. The causes are NOT only alcohol, but can be with Non-alcoholic and Alcoholic Steatohepatitis.