Human livers with histologically proven cirrhosis were assessed using in vitro 31P NMR spectroscopy. Spectra were compared with those from histologically normal livers and showed significant elevations in phosphoethanolamine (PE) and phosphocholine (PC) and significant reductions in glycerophosphorylethanolamine (GPE) and glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC). There were no significant differences in spectra from livers with compensated and decompensated cirrhosis. These results help to characterise the alterations in membrane metabolism in cirrhosis of the liver.