HEADING 1 - Eastern Liver Network



alcohol related liver disease

How does alcohol cause liver damage?

Alcohol is metabolised (processed) in the liver. Excess alcohol changes how the liver cells work and can cause progressive damage over time. Excess alcohol damages the liver iand cause the following problems:

• Fatty Liver: Due to changes in how liver cells work, alcohol can cause fat accumulation within the liver. Fat may persist and cause damage. This can disappear if people stop heavy drinking.

• Alcohol Related Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis is the result of progressive damage to the liver over many months and often years. The caused scarring builds up until there are continuous bands of scar tissue throughout the liver. There are no symptoms when cirrhosis is at an early stage, but if alcohol consumption continues, this ultimately progresses to liver failure, which causes bleeding from the gut, fluid accumulation in the stomach and confusion or coma. There is also an increased risk of liver cancer if people have cirrhosis. We have a separate Information Sheet is given about cirrhosis.

• Alcoholic Hepatitis: This is a potentially very serious illness, which, when severe, causes jaundice (yellow eyes and skin) and fluid accumulation in the stomach over only a few weeks. It is usually seen when people are drinking large amounts of alcohol and often requires people to be looked after in hospital.

How is alcohol related liver disease diagnosed?

The diagnosis of alcohol related liver disease involves a combination of blood tests, ultrasound scanning and sometimes a liver biopsy. This is all interpreted in the context of how much alcohol is being consumed.

Treatment of alcohol-related liver disease

The key aspect of treatment of severe alcohol related liver disease is complete avoidance of alcohol. If this is achieved then this gives the liver the best chance of regenerating and working better, even if a person has cirrhosis.

You may find the following groups helpful in achieving abstinence:

• nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Alcoholsupport.aspx

•

• Drinkline: Tel 0300 123 1110

• Alcohol Concern: .uk/help-and-advice‎ Tel 02075669800

• Alcoholic Anonymous alcoholics-.uk 0845 769 7555

Prevention

Recommendations for preventing alcohol related liver disease are given by the Department of Health and Royal College of Physicians.

• Men should not drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week

• Women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week. Pregnant women should not drink more than 1-2 units of alcohol once or twice a week.

• A unit of alcohol is half a pint of ordinary strength beer, a small pub measure (25mls) spirits and a small glass of ordinary strength wine (125mls 12% alcohol). It is also important for everyone to have two to three alcohol free days per week.

Further information and other useful contacts

• British Liver Trust (.uk)

• drinkaware.co.uk

• patient.co.uk

• NHS Choices

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