Treatments for Alcohol Liver Disease

According to the Centers for Disease Control, in 2006 alone, 13,050 Americans died from alcohol-induced liver disease. The two most common alcohol related liver diseases are cirrhosis or hepatitis. Cirrhosis of the liver is scarring of the liver tissue due to being overworked by breaking down the toxins in alcohol. Alcohol-related liver hepatitis is the swelling of the liver due to excessive alcohol abuse. In both cases, there are a variety of treatment options available to help address alcohol-induced liver diseases.

Habit Change

• One of the first treatment for an alcohol related liver disease is changing the lifestyle and habit that created the disease in the first place. There are many resources available to quit drinking alcohol. Since the liver has been compromised, the body may not be healthy enough for prescription interventions such as Campral or Antabuse. Instead, a mixture of group and individual counseling, detox and either residential or out-patient treatment can help stop the drinking habits that created the disease.

Nutrition

• A specialized nutrition plan is also another treatment option for those with alcohol related liver disease. This is especially important for those suffering from hepatitis of the liver. According to the Mayo Clinic, a diet high in calories and dense in nutrients can help liver cells regenerate themselves. A reduction in unhealthy fats is also recommended, as the liver needs to work harder during digestion of these substances. An increase of calcium, vitamin B and iron can also help the liver regenerate cells and heal some of the damage done by alcohol.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications

• In situations where the liver is inflamed, such as with alcohol-induced hepatitis, anti-inflammatory may also be prescribed for treatment. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, help reduce liver inflammation by suppressing immune system cells called prostaglandins. Prostaglandins are responsible for activating the inflammatory response in the body. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha is another component that causes the inflammation of the liver seen in some alcohol liver diseases. Drugs such as pentoxifylline may be prescribed to help block these components and reduce liver swelling.

Antibiotics

• When infection is a factor in alcohol liver disease, antibiotics may also be used. Antibiotics are used for bacterial infections of the liver, and work by targeting and killing any harmful bacteria present in the liver. Unfortunately, if the liver has been severely damaged, antibiotics may actually have aversive effects. The liver is responsible for breaking down the byproducts of antibiotics into safe products that can be excreted through urine or feces. If the liver has been compromised, antibiotics can stay in the bloodstream and become toxic to the body.

Transplant

• When the liver has become unresponsive to behavioral or pharmaceutical intervention, the only treatment option left is the removal of the damaged liver. This is done through a liver transplant. According to the United Network for Organ Sharing, approximately 6,500 liver transplants are performed each year. Another estimated 15,000 patients are currently waiting for a liver transplant. Unfortunately, alcoholism can be a determining factor of whether or not a patient will be given a liver transplant. Those with alcohol liver diseases tend to be waitlisted longer compared to other patients who have lived a healthier lifestyle, and in some cases, may not be approved for a liver transplant because of their history of alcoholism.