Chronic liver disease develops from long-term liver damage over months to years. The most common causes are viral hepatitis and chronically high alcohol consumption.
Chronic liver disease is the progressive deterioration (or weakening) of your liver function over many months to years.
Long-term inflammation in your liver can lead to lead to scarring called fibrosis and eventually severe and permanent scarring called cirrhosis. People with cirrhosis are at risk of developing end stage liver failure or liver cancer.
Chronic liver disease can be caused by:
- high alcohol consumption over many years
- hepatitis and other viral infections
- metabolic dysfunction associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), previously known as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- genetic diseases
- autoimmune disease
Read on to learn more about chronic liver disease, including its stages, causes, and outlook.
Here’s a look at the stages of chronic liver disease.
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is inflammation of your liver. It’s often caused by viral infection or heavy alcohol consumption. Chronic inflammation can lead to fibrosis.
Fibrosis
Fibrosis is the buildup of scar tissue in your liver in response to chronic inflammation. Scar tissue is made up of strands of a protein called collagen. If left untreated, fibrosis can advance to cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis
Cirrhosis is severe and permanent scarring in your liver that prevents it from working properly. It’s estimated to occur in
It’s subclassified as:
- compensated cirrhosis if symptoms are mild or not apparent
- decompensated cirrhosis if you develop symptoms of advanced liver failure, such as:
- jaundice, the yellowing of your eye whites and skin
- cognitive changes (hepatic encephalopathy)
- abdominal fluid buildup (ascites)
Liver failure
People with severe liver damage can develop liver failure. This is when your liver can’t work well enough to perform all its normal tasks. If your liver becomes severely damaged, you may require a liver transplant.
People with decompensated cirrhosis are at risk of end stage liver failure, in which the liver is damaged beyond repair.
Liver cancer
Cirrhosis is the
Chronic liver failure is caused by long-term inflammation or injury to your liver. According to the
Potential
| Type | Cause |
|---|---|
| alcohol-related liver disease | repeatedly consuming too much alcohol |
| viral hepatitis | viral hepatitis infection |
| MASLD | often linked to type 2 diabetes and obesity |
| genetic disease | • Wilson disease • alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency • hereditary hemochromatosis |
| autoimmune diseases | • primary biliary cirrhosis • primary sclerosing cholangitis • autoimmune hepatitis |
| long-term drug use | • amiodarone (Pacerone, Cordarone, Nexterone) • isoniazid (Hydra, Hyzyd, Isovit) • methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall, Otrexup, Rasuvo) • nitrofurantoin (Aratoin, Furadantin, Macrobid, Macrodantin) • phenytoin (Dilantin) |
| unclear cause | occurs in about |
Chronic liver disease can cause progressively more severe symptoms as your liver becomes more damaged. Signs and symptoms can include:
- feeling weak and tired all the time
- loss of appetite
- loss of sex drive
- jaundice, yellowing of your skin and eye whites
- itchy skin
- flu-like symptoms
- cognitive changes, such as:
- coordination changes
- changes in intellectual function
- euphoria
- bizarre behavior
- disorientation
Potential complications of chronic liver disease include:
- liver failure
- hepatorenal syndrome, the gradual loss of kidney function
- esophageal varices, swollen veins in your lower esophagus
- hyperestrogenism, high levels of estrogen
- portal hypertension, high blood pressure in the main vein in your liver
- spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, bacterial infection of fluid in your abdomen
- coma or death
It’s important to get medical attention if you suspect you may have liver disease. It’s especially important if you develop signs of advanced liver disease, such as jaundice or itchy skin.
A doctor might use many tests to confirm chronic liver disease or help investigate the underlying cause. Potential tests include:
- a review of your symptoms and medical history
- physical exam
- blood tests to:
- examine levels of liver enzymes
- look for viral hepatitis infection
- measure your cholesterol and triglyceride levels
- measure iron levels
- rule out autoimmune and genetic causes of liver disease
- urine tests
- imaging, such as:
- upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
- liver biopsy
Treatment for chronic liver disease might include:
- regular exercise to retain muscle mass
- endoscopy to treat esophageal varices
- lactulose and rifaximin for hepatic encephalopathy
- stopping the usage of drugs damaging your liver
- liver transplant
- taking medications to help your body fight off viral hepatitis
- avoiding alcohol
- losing weight for MASLD
- corticosteroids and immunosuppressants for autoimmune hepatitis
- iron chelators or blood removal for hereditary hemochromatosis
- copper chelators for Wilson disease
The outlook for people with chronic liver disease tends to be worse as liver damage increases. People with compensated chronic liver disease have a better outlook than people with decompensated disease.
The average survival time for people with decompensated disease is about
Some ways you can potentially prevent chronic liver disease include:
- maintaining a moderate weight
- exercising regularly
- consuming a balanced diet
- consuming alcohol in moderation or not at all
- following the recommended dosages for your medications
- getting vaccinated for viral hepatitis when traveling to countries with high rates of hepatitis
- wearing a condom or other barrier method when having sex with a new partner who may have viral hepatitis
- avoiding sharing injection equipment
Here are some frequently asked questions people have about chronic liver disease.
Can chronic liver disease be cured?
Once your liver disease progresses to cirrhosis, it usually can’t be cured. You can make lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol to prevent your condition from getting worse.
Can you live with chronic liver disease?
Many people with chronic liver disease live for years after receiving a diagnosis. Your degree of liver damage plays a large role in determining how likely it is to affect your life expectancy.
What’s the difference between chronic liver disease and cirrhosis?
Chronic liver disease is the loss of liver function over months to years. Cirrhosis is a feature of chronic liver disease in which scar tissue builds up in your liver and impairs its function.
You can lower your chances of developing chronic liver disease by consuming alcohol in moderation and receiving a hepatitis vaccine before traveling to regions with high rates of viral hepatitis.