The liver is an organ that serves many vital functions, such as detoxification, glycogen storage, biochemical production and digestion. A healthy liver is capable of regenerating damaged tissue, but chronic injury can lead to the development of scar tissue, a condition called fibrosis, which is permanent and nonreversible. Scarring causes reduced blood flow and decreases liver function, leading to liver disease and cirrhosis. Liver cirrhosis can lead to a number of complications--the worst being liver failure and the need for a liver transplant. There are a multitude of conditions and behaviors that can lead to the development of liver cirrhosis.
Alcohol
The most common cause of death due to liver cirrhosis is alcohol-related liver disease. Alcohol is broken down by the liver and then eliminated from the body. Chronic and heavy alcohol consumption can place excess strain on the liver, leading to injury and eventual scarring and cirrhosis. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) considers three to four drinks per day for men and two to three drinks per day for women to be heavy alcohol consumption that could lead to liver damage, although this varies from person to person. Heavy drinking often follows a progressive pattern of liver damage from fatty liver to alcohol hepatitis before developing liver cirrhosis.
Chronic Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a liver infection caused by the hepatitis virus, either C (HCV), B (HBV), or D (HDV). The virus causes inflammation of the liver, leading to damage and eventual fibrosis and cirrhosis. All three viruses are spread by contact with the blood of an individual infected with the hepatitis virus, but hepatitis D can only be contracted by people with hepatitis B. The CDC estimates approximately 1.2 million Americans are infected with hepatitis B and 3.2 million with hepatitis C. Not all people infected with the virus develop liver cirrhosis, but the CDC estimates at least 20 percent of individuals with hepatitis C develop cirrhosis.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
When the liver has trouble breaking down fats, it accumulates in the liver, leading to a condition called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Often the buildup causes no problems, but in some individuals, the buildup leads to inflammation and scarring, leading to possible liver cirrhosis. Numerous risk factors exist for developing NAFLD, including obesity, coronary artery disease, Type 2 diabetes, toxins, metabolic syndrome and high blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels. NAFLD is the most common liver disease in the United States, with an estimated 29 million Americans living with the disease, according to the CDC.
Bile Duct Damage
The bile ducts are a group of structures in the body that are responsible for transporting bile. Bile is produced by the liver and is important in the digestion of foods, especially lipids. Certain injuries or conditions can lead to the breakdown of the bile ducts, causing a buildup of bile in the liver. This buildup can cause inflammation, scarring and liver cirrhosis. The most common cause of bile duct damage is due to primary biliary cirrhosis, an autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks cells of the small bile ducts of the liver. Other conditions exist that lead to bile duct damage, such as primary sclerosing cholangitis, Alagille syndrome and biliary atresia. The bile ducts may also be mistakenly damaged during gallbladder surgery.
