The liver stores blood, produces bile, manufactures vitamins and other components necessary for blood clotting and filters the blood to remove essential nutrients and toxins. It then metabolizes or breaks down and changes these nutrients and toxins into forms that are easier for the body to use or remove. As efficient as the liver is, there are several causes of liver cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the formation of scar tissue which over time affects liver function.
Alcoholism
Alcohol affects liver cells, called hepatocytes, directly. Alcohol is highly toxic to hepatocytes and causes diffuse inflammation in the liver. The American Liver Foundation reports that alcoholism is the most common cause of liver cirrhosis in the United States. The effects of alcohol on liver cells occur immediately, however, it takes years for the damage to be visible. Repeated exposure to alcohol causes continuous inflammation in the liver which leads to the development of scar tissue throughout the organ. Not everyone is affected to the same extent, but everyone who drinks regularly will experience some liver damage.
Infection
The ALF explains how viral infections can directly attack the liver causing inflammation of liver cells. Many viral infections, such as Hepatitis A, B and C or Epstein Barr, can cause widespread inflammation in the liver with acute symptoms. However, some of these disease processes are self limiting. For example, Hepatitis A and Epstein Barr typically do not cause chronic liver problems. Hepatitis B and C cause chronic liver problems that can take many years, sometimes up to 20 years, to manifest. According to the ALF, Hepatitis C is the second leading cause of liver cirrhosis.
Toxins
Toxin exposure can be a cause of liver cirrhosis. Donna D. Ignatavicius, MS RN, and M. Linda Workman, Ph.D, authors of "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care," explain how toxins can be from exposure to environmental chemicals, ingestion of drugs or alcohol, or byproducts of systemic infections called endotoxins. Even bile and enzymes normally produced by the liver, gallbladder, or pancreas can become toxic to the liver when disease states prevent normal secretion and excretion of these substances.
Toxins can cause an acute inflammatory response in the liver. Inflammation of liver tissue interferes with normal blood flow to and from the organ and, over time, causes the formation of scar tissue within the liver. If the acute inflammatory state is not quickly corrected, cirrhosis can become extensive, and a chronic liver problem can develop.
Genetic Disorders
There are several genetic diseases which are causes of liver cirrhosis. A genetic disease is one that is inherited, such as Hemochromatosis and Wilson's disease. These two diseases affect iron and copper storage in the liver, respectively, causing liver tissue damage. Some disorders are autoimmune, which means the body launches its defense system against itself because it cannot properly recognize its own tissues; this leads to hepatitis. Eventually these chronic disorders cause such extensive cirrhosis that the liver fails.
References
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing: Critical Thinking for Collaborative Care"; Donna D. Ignatavicius MS RN, & M. Linda Workman Ph.D; 2006
- American Liver Foundation: Cirrhosis
