What is alcoholic cirrhosis?
Alcoholic cirrhosis represents the final stage of liver disease due to alcohol. It may present without a preceding hepatitis. In cirrhosis, the liver cells are replaced by fibrous scar tissue. Fibrosis leads to the development of portal hypertension. The development of cirrhosis is directly related to the duration and quantity of alcohol consumption. The manifestations of
cirrhosis are related to the liver's inability to not adequately remove waste products from the bloodstream and the effects of portal hypertension.
Alcoholic cirrhosis is a condition of irreversible liver disease due to the chronic inflammatory and toxic effects of ethanol on the liver. The rate at which the liver is able to metabolize (break down) alcohol is genetically influenced, but there is no evidence that a specific genetically controlled metabolic defect exists in patients with cirrhosis or in their family tree. There is no question that the amount of alcohol consumed and the period of time over which that consumption occurs are the major factors determining the amount of liver damage. Most alcoholics who develop cirrhosis have regular consumption of the equivalent of one or more pints of whiskey per day over a period of at least ten years. This demonstrates that the liver is quite resislient but will eventually give in to the abuse in about 15% of alcoholics. Women tend to be more susceptible than men.
Alcoholic cirrhosis can develop in a man who consumes 5 or more alcoholic beverages every day for at least 10 to 15 years; women may develop the disease after 3 or more drinks daily over the same period. At least 10% to 15% of people who drink alcohol excessively will develop cirrhosis. Of the 26,000 people who die from cirrhosis each year, at least 40% have a history of alcohol abuse. |
