Alcoholic liver disease is defined by three stages of liver damage following chronic heavy alcohol consumption: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and fibrosis/cirrhosis (Figure 5).
The last of the alcoholic liver disease stages is cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the build up of permanent scar tissue in the liver that interrupts regular liver function and can lead to liver failure. This stage of alcoholic liver damage is serious and can be fatal.Mar 31, 2020
Chronic liver failure, also called end-stage liver disease, progresses over months, years, or decades. Most often, chronic liver failure is the result of cirrhosis, a condition in which scar tissue replaces healthy liver tissue until the liver cannot function adequately.
This is called alcoholic fatty liver disease, and is the first stage of ARLD. Fatty liver disease rarely causes any symptoms, but it's an important warning sign that you're drinking at a harmful level. Fatty liver disease is reversible. If you stop drinking alcohol for 2 weeks, your liver should return to normal.
Cirrhosis is classified into four stages that include:Stage I: Steatosis. The first stage of liver disease is characterized by inflammation of the bile duct or liver. ... Stage II: Scarring (fibrosis) of the liver due to inflammation. ... Stage III: Cirrhosis. ... Stage IV: Liver failure or advanced liver disease or hepatic failure.
When signs and symptoms do occur, they may include:Fatigue.Easily bleeding or bruising.Loss of appetite.Nausea.Swelling in your legs, feet or ankles (edema)Weight loss.Itchy skin.Yellow discoloration in the skin and eyes (jaundice)More items...•Feb 6, 2021
Symptoms of end-stage liver disease may include:Easy bleeding or bruising.Persistent or recurring yellowing of your skin and eyes (jaundice)Intense itching.Abdominal pain.Loss of appetite.Nausea.Swelling due to fluid buildup in your abdomen and legs.Problems with concentration and memory.
The final stage of alcoholism is addiction. At this stage, you no longer want to drink just for pleasure. Alcohol addiction is characterized by a physical and psychological need to drink. People with alcohol addiction physically crave the substance and are often inconsolable until they start drinking again.
Cirrhosis is a late stage of liver disease where the liver is severely scarred but may still be able to perform its function to support life. When the liver is no longer able to perform its work adequately, its goes into liver failure. Most patients who develop chronic liver failure have underlying cirrhosis.
Alcoholic fatty liver disease Sometimes, heavy drinking over a short period, even less than a week, can cause this. There are normally no symptoms, and this stage of the disease is often reversible if the individual abstains from alcohol from this point onward.
Overview. Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is caused by damage to the liver from years of excessive drinking. Years of alcohol abuse can cause the liver to become inflamed and swollen. This damage can also cause scarring known as cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the final stage of liver disease.
Treatment for ARLD involves stopping drinking alcohol. This is known as abstinence, which can be vital, depending on what stage the condition is at. If you have fatty liver disease, the damage may be reversed if you abstain from alcohol for at least 2 weeks.