BACKGROUND: Liver cirrhosis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality all around the world. In Peru it is the 5th cause of general mortality and the 2nd one between all those related to gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary diseases. At HNERM it is the principal etiology between all the cases that need hospitalization in gastroenterology. It is clear that we need to know all the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics to propose national actions to try to control and prevent this disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The present is a descriptive, transversal and observational study to clarify the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients with cirrhosis hospitalized in the Liver unit at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital between january 2001 and june 2004. RESULTS: 475 patients were included, 45.1% were female, medium age was 63.4 years (r =26-93). The most frequent causes of cirrhosis were alcoholism (28%), chronic hepatitis B (15.2%), and chronic hepatitis C (11.8%). According to Child-Pugh score 42.3% was in stage B, and 42.5% en C. The main cause for hospitalization was upper gastrointestinal bleeding related to portal hypertension, followed by ascitis and encephalopathy. The principal infections were urinary, pulmonar and spontaneous bacterial peritonitis. Hepatocellullar carcinoma was found in 7.9% of the cases.CONCLUSIONS: Liver cirrhosis affects principally males. The principal causes are alcoholism and chronic viral hepatitis. The principal cause of hospitalization is upper gastrointestinal bleeding. Most of the patients have an advanced disease at the moment of diagnosis. Principal infections are urinary, Pneumonia and SBP.