Alcohol-Related Liver Disease: Signs, Symptoms & Treatment Options

Alcohol can prove to be detrimental in more ways than one, but the liver is where its hammer stroke will fall the hardest. Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) refers to liver damage that happens because of drinking heavily over a period of time. It can lead to inflammation, scarring, and other complications like the build-up of fats, bleeding, and even liver failure. In extreme cases, ARLD can require a liver transplant to prolong the survival rate and prevent fatality.

What Is Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ARLD)?

The liver is one of the integral organs in your body. It is central to digestion and metabolism and even acts as your body’s natural detoxification system. It filters your blood and gets rid of the toxins in your body.

Heavy and chronic drinking or alcohol use disorder (AUD) can be quite damaging to the liver. It leads to alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD), which, in turn, impedes liver functions related to digestion and detoxification, among other things. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that a considerable number of liver-related fatalities are an outcome of alcohol consumption.

Stages and Types of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

While liver damage can affect the whole body, it is not immediately noticeable. Even after the damage begins, the liver does an immense job of repairing itself and performing its functions. So, by the time doctors detect ARLD, it is almost irreversible.

By being aware of the stages and types of ARLD, you can take steps toward early detection and intervention.

ARLD happens in 4 stages, which are the different types of the disease as well:

1. Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease:

Heavy drinking leads to the accumulation of fatty acids in the liver. This stage does not have any overt signs, but it can be easily reversed if the person abstains from alcohol.

2. Alcoholic Hepatitis:

Hepatitis refers to the inflammation of the liver. It is a severe condition that leads to an enlarged liver, higher body temperature, jaundice, and increased breathing rate and heart rate. While alcoholic hepatitis can be reversed if one stops drinking, it can progress to other stages and types of ARLD otherwise.

3. Fibrosis:

Liver fibrosis is when the liver tissue becomes scarred and cannot function properly. Fibrosis is the first stage of scarring and can progress to cirrhosis if it is not treated immediately.

4. Cirrhosis:

Cirrhosis occurs when the liver has been inflamed for a long time. It is an irreversible, life-threatening condition. While abstinence from alcohol can prevent further damage, it does not reverse the cirrhosis in itself. In extreme cases, one might need a liver transplant to heal the damage.

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Early Signs of Alcoholic Liver Disease

As we mentioned before, ARLD is often not detected until it is too late. So, when you understand the early signs of the disease, you can seek early intervention and reverse this condition:

• A general feeling of being ill
• Abdominal pain
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Decreased appetite

If you or a loved one is consuming alcohol and experiencing these symptoms, then it can be an indication that the drinking has started to impact the liver. Seeking early intervention and treating AUD can stop this condition from worsening further and even reverse it. But if the drinking continues, then it leads to a quicker progression of the disease to the point that it becomes irreversible.

Advanced Symptoms of Alcohol-Related Liver Damage

As ARLD worsens, its symptoms become more noticeable and stand out from the general feeling of being unwell. Typically, the advanced symptoms are the signs of liver fibrosis or cirrhosis, which can be as follows:

• A general feeling of illness
• Fever and chills
• Itchy skin
• Clubbing of the fingernails
• Blood in vomit and stools
• Swelling of the lower limbs
• Build-up of fluid in the abdominal region
• Heightened sensitivity to alcohol and other psychoactive substances.

How Alcohol-Related Liver Disease Is Diagnosed?

When you are overconsuming alcohol, and your doctor suspects the presence of ARLD, then it is diagnosed in a step-by-step manner:

Blood Tests:

Blood tests are the first tests performed to detect ARLD. It looks for lower levels of certain substances produced by the liver and abnormal blood clotting to check for liver functioning.

Imaging Tests:

Imaging tests for detailed images of the liver, like CT and MRI scans, are performed. These tests can indicate whether the liver is stiffer or scarred.

Liver Biopsy:

Liver biopsy is a slightly invasive test that is performed under local anesthesia. It is done to understand the extent of liver scarring.

Endoscopy:

Endoscopy is passed down from the esophagus for detailed images of the esophagus and stomach. It is used to look for the presence of swollen veins, which is a clear sign of cirrhosis.

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Treatment Options for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

To effectively treat Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ARLD), a multifaceted approach is required, addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of recovery. Here are the treatment options for Alcohol-Related Liver Disease.

Quit Drinking Alcohol Immediately:

As ARLD is related to overconsumption of alcohol, the only way to prevent further damage and reverse this disease is by quitting alcohol. Of course, quitting alcohol abruptly on your own has problems of its own with cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and the risk of relapse, so you need to seek rehabilitation (rehab) to achieve an enduring recovery.

Manage Alcohol Withdrawal:

What makes quitting alcohol on your own can be challenging and even dangerous is alcohol withdrawal symptoms. These unpleasant symptoms need medical attention; if not, they can even lead to life-threatening conditions. To manage alcohol withdrawal, you might need a medically supervised detoxification (detox) where alcohol levels will be gradually tapered off from your body to minimize and manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Psychological Therapy and Support:

While detox is the first step to treating an AUD, it does not get to the bottom of the conditions leading to alcohol use in the first place. Therefore, psychotherapy and counseling involving motivational interviewing, cognitive behavioral therapy, contingency management, and 12-step recovery programs like Alcoholics Anonymous are used to change the underlying patterns leading to alcohol use and equip you with the tools and skills you need to cope with life stressors without resorting to alcohol.

Nutritional Support:

Nutritional support is critical to your recovery from alcohol use. Unfortunately, when you overconsume alcohol, you overlook your nutritional requirements in favor of alcohol use. So, nutritional support is integral to your rehab, as a balanced, nutritious diet allows your body to repair itself from the damage of alcohol use, including liver damage. By providing your body with nutrients like proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals, you empower your body to heal and recover.

Medications:

Medications play a crucial role in healing the liver. Your doctor may typically prescribe corticosteroids or pentoxifylline to reduce liver inflammation.

Liver Transplant:

While not the immediate option, where the extent of ARLD-related damage is irreversible, or in the case of liver failure, a liver transplant becomes the only option to save a person’s life. Typically, those who have been sober for at least 6 months are considered to be ideal candidates for a liver transplant.

Complications of Alcohol-Related Liver Disease

Treating ARLD is not limited to the condition itself but also the other complications it leads to. These complications are as follows:

Infections:

Damage to the liver can also damage the immune system, leaving the door open to other infections and illnesses.

Portal Hypertension and Varices:

When the blood pressure inside the liver becomes so high that it leads to long-term bleeding - spotted in vomit and stools - it leads to weakened blood vessels known as varices. These are located with an endoscope and treated by sealing the base of the respective varices.

Ascites:

Portal hypertension can also lead to the build-up of fluid in the abdomen. Initially, it is treated with diuretics, but it can also require a procedure known as paracentesis that involves a thin tube being placed into the fluid via the skin.

Hepatic Encephalopathy:

As ARLD damages the liver’s ability to filter and detoxify the blood, it leads to a build-up of toxins in the body. This is known as hepatic encephalopathy, which can require hospitalization to remove the toxins from the blood.

Liver Cancer:

ARLD can lead to liver cirrhosis if it is not stopped in the early stages. Liver cirrhosis can increase the risk of liver cancer by 3% to 5%.

How to Prevent Alcohol-Related Liver Disease?

As ARLD is one of the outcomes of heavy alcohol consumption, the best way to prevent it is by abstaining from alcohol or by engaging in controlled drinking. Moderate drinking refers to limiting alcohol intake to 1 drink per day for females and 2 drinks per day for males.

Find Help for Alcohol Addiction and ARLD at Design for Recovery

Alcohol-related liver disease is not only damaging to the liver, but as the condition worsens, it can even reduce life expectancy rates as well. Therefore, controlling alcohol consumption is vital to manage this condition.

When you make the decision to recover from alcohol use disorder, you are making a very empowering decision that will positively affect your entire well-being and life. While it is challenging to quit alcohol on your own, with integrated care options, a sober life becomes a tangible reality. Design For Recovery provides premier sober living homes for young men, defined by a structured environment, clinical support, and an understanding community for enduring recovery and a sober future ahead of you.