Alcoholic Liver Disease
Overview
Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation of the liver caused by drinking alcohol.
Alcoholic hepatitis is most likely to occur in people who drink heavily over many years. However, the relationship between drinking and alcoholic hepatitis is complex. Not all heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, and the disease can occur in people who drink only moderately.
If you're diagnosed with alcoholic hepatitis, you must stop drinking alcohol. People who continue to drink alcohol face a high risk of serious liver damage and death.
Symptoms
The most common sign of alcoholic hepatitis is yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes (jaundice).
Other signs and symptoms include:
- Loss of appetite
- Nausea and vomiting
- Abdominal tenderness
- Fever, often low grade
- Fatigue and weakness
Malnutrition is common in people with alcoholic hepatitis. Drinking large amounts of alcohol suppresses the appetite, and heavy drinkers get most of their calories from alcohol.
Additional signs and symptoms that occur with severe alcoholic hepatitis include:
- Fluid accumulation in your abdomen (ascites)
- Confusion and behavior changes due to a buildup of toxins normally broken down and eliminated by the liver
- Kidney and liver failure
When to see a doctor
Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious, often deadly disease.
See your doctor if you:
- Have signs or symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis
- Can't control your drinking
- Would like help cutting back on your drinking
Complications
Esophageal varicesOpen pop-up dialog box
Normal liver vs. liver cirrhosisOpen pop-up dialog box
Complications of alcoholic hepatitis, which result from severe liver damage, relate to scar tissue. Scar tissue can slow blood flow through your liver, increasing pressure in a major blood vessel (portal vein), and the buildup of toxins. Complications include:
- Enlarged veins (varices). Blood that can't flow freely through the portal vein can back up into other blood vessels in the stomach and esophagus. These blood vessels have thin walls and are likely to bleed if filled with too much blood. Heavy bleeding in the upper stomach or esophagus is life-threatening and requires immediate medical care.
- Ascites. Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen might become infected and require treatment with antibiotics. Ascites isn't life-threatening but are usually a sign of advanced alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis.
- Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy). A damaged liver has trouble removing toxins from your body. The buildup of toxins can damage your brain. Severe hepatic encephalopathy can result in coma.
- Kidney failure. A damaged liver can affect blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in damage to those organs.
- Cirrhosis. This scarring of the liver can lead to liver failure.
