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Advanced Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease is caused by extended periods of time spent excessively drinking. Your risk of developing the disease increases with the length of time that you have been drinking and the quantities of alcohol that you have consumed.

  1. Prevalence

    • According to MedlinePlus.com, women are more commonly affected than men and the disease does not occur in all heavy drinkers.

    Risk Factor for Disease Progression

    • One risk factor which also contributes to the progression of alcoholic liver disease is a simultaneous infection with either hepatitis C or hepatitis B. According to the USC Department of Surgery, a large percentage of patients with advanced alcoholic liver disease also have hepatitis C or B.

    Symptoms

    • Symptoms of alcoholic liver disease often do not emerge until the disease has progressed and include fever, fatigue, stomach pain, abdominal tenderness, ascites (fluid build-up in your abdomen), confusion, diminished appetite, weight gain and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

    Severe Symptoms

    • Additional symptoms that emerge as your liver becomes increasingly damaged include agitation, mood swings, bloody bowel movements, gynecomastia (breast development in men), confusion, hallucinations, impaired memory, diminished judgment, paleness and rapid heart beat.

    Treatment

    • The most important aspect of treatment is that the patient must stop drinking. At this advanced stage, depending on the severity of your illness, you may require a liver transplant.

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