Alcoholic liver disease Health Article

Signs and tests

• CBC
• Liver biopsy
• Liver function tests such as ALP
• Serum ferritin

Tests to rule out other diseases include:

• Abdominal CT scan
• Blood tests for other causes of liver disease
• Ultrasound of the abdomen

Treatment

The most important part of treatment is to stop using alcohol completely. If liver cirrhosis has not yet occurred, the liver can heal if you stop drinking alcohol.

An alcohol rehabilitation program or counseling may be necessary to break the alcohol addiction. Vitamins, especially B-complex and folic acid, can help reverse malnutrition.

If cirrhosis develops, you will need to manage the complications of cirrhosis. You may need a liver transplant.

Support Groups

You can often ease the stress of illness by joining a support group whose members share common experiences and problems.

See:

• Alcoholism - support group
• Liver disease - support group

Expectations (prognosis)

Continued excessive drinking can shorten your lifespan. The outcome will likely be poor if you keep drinking.

Complications

• Bleeding esophageal varices
• Cirrhosis
• Hepatic encephalopathy
• Increased pressure in blood vessels of the liver (portal hypertension)

Calling your health care provider

Call your health care provider if:

• You develop symptoms of alcoholic liver disease
• You develop symptoms after prolonged or heavy drinking
• You are concerned that drinking may be damaging your health

Prevention

Discuss your alcohol intake with your doctor. The doctor can counsel you about how much alcohol is safe to drink for your situation.

References

Carithers RL, McClain C. Alcoholic liver disease. In: Feldman M, Friedman LS, Brandt LJ. Feldman: Sleisinger & Fordtran's Gastrointestinal and Liver Disease. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2006:chap 81.

Schuppan D, Afdhal NH. Liver cirrhosis. Lancet. 2008;371:838-851.