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You are here : AllRefer.com > Health > Diseases & Conditions > Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic Liver Disease

Provided by A.D.A.M.

Definition

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Symptoms & Signs

Prevention

Diagnosis & Tests

Treatment

Expectations or Prognosis

Complications

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Alternate Names : Cirrhosis or Hepatitis - Alcoholic, Laennec's Cirrhosis, Liver Disease due to Alcohol


Definition

Alcoholic liver disease involves an acute or chronic inflammation of the liver induced by alcohol abuse. See also cirrhosis.

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Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors

Alcoholic hepatitis usually occurs after years of excessive drinking. The longer the duration of alcohol use and the greater the consumption of alcohol, the greater the probability of developing liver disease.

Malnutrition develops as a result of empty calories from alcohol, reduced appetite, and malabsorption (inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestinal tract). Malnutrition contributes to liver disease.

The toxicity of ethanol to the liver, individual susceptibility to alcohol-induced liver disease, and genetic factors also contribute to the development of alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease does not affect all heavy drinkers, and women may be more susceptible than men. Drunkenness is not essential for the development of the disease.

In some drinkers, the rate of alcohol metabolism can be high enough to allow for the consumption of large quantities of alcohol without raising the blood alcohol level to detectable concentrations by conventional breath analyzer.

Changes start within the liver as inflammation (hepatitis) and progress to fatty liver and cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the final phase of alcoholic liver disease. Symptoms may not be present until the disease is relatively advanced.

Serious complications are associated with advanced disease such as alcoholic encephalopathy (damage to brain tissue) and portal hypertension (high blood pressure within the liver).



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Definition
Alcoholic Liver Disease Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors
Alcoholic Liver Disease Symptoms & Signs
Alcoholic Liver Disease Prevention
Alcoholic Liver Disease Diagnosis & Tests
Alcoholic Liver Disease Treatment
Alcoholic Liver Disease Prognosis
Alcoholic Liver Disease Complications
Alcoholic Liver Disease Support Groups
Calling Your Health Care Provider
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Topics that might be of interest to you

Diseases & Conditions

Anemia
Ascites
Bleeding Esophageal Varices
Cirrhosis
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Hepatitis
Liver Disease
Malabsorption
Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome

Tests & Exams

Abdominal Tap - Paracentesis
Abdominal Ultrasound
ALP
Alpha Fetoprotein
CBC
CT Scan
Ferritin
Liver Biopsy
Liver Function Tests
Reticulocyte Count

Other Topics

Abdomen - Swollen
Abdominal Pain
Acute
Agitation
Alcohol Use
Alcoholism - Resources
Appetite - Decreased
Bloody or Tarry Stools
Chronic
Confusion
Fainting
Fatigue
Fever
Folic Acid (Folate)
Gynecomastia
Hepatomegaly
High Blood Pressure
Jaundice - Yellow Skin
Liver Disease - Resources
Metabolism
Nausea and Vomiting
Paleness
Protein in Diet
Pulse - Bounding
Resources
Stress and Anxiety
Thirst - Excessive
Vomiting Blood
Weight Gain - Unintentional

Review Date : 5/9/2002
Reviewed By : Andrew J. Muir, M.D. M.H.S., Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial reviewers. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch).

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