Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, which breaks it down into a compound known as acetaldehyde. Normally, this toxic chemical is then converted into other, less dangerous chemicals. When alcohol is consumed in large quantities, however, the acetaldehyde can damage the liver cells before it is further metabolized. Severe liver damage can result in permanent scarring of the liver, also known as cirrhosis, which can be treated in a variety of ways.
Alcoholism Treatment
Alcoholic liver cirrhosis typically only occurs after prolonged alcohol abuse. People who have developed liver cirrhosis as a result of alcohol abuse need to quit drinking, according to MayoClinic.com. Because people who have developed alcoholic cirrhosis may have a problem with alcohol dependency, treatment is often needed to help them stop drinking. Although refraining from alcohol consumption will not heal the damaged liver, it will help keep the cirrhosis from getting worse.
Diuretics
One of the jobs of the liver is to produce proteins that help keep water from leaking out of the blood into the space around cells in the body. Liver cirrhosis resulting from alcoholism can cause disruption of this function, causing liquid to leak into various cavities in the body. When this occurs in the abdomen, it is referred to as ascites. In other areas, it causes swelling known as edema. Edema and ascites can be treated by giving the patient diuretics. These medications help eliminate excess fluid, reducing the swelling and weight gain that edema and ascites can cause.
Beta Blockers
The liver has two different blood supplies: the hepatic arteries, which supply oxygen rich blood, and the portal vein, which supplies blood which needs to be cleansed of toxins. If liver cirrhosis blocks the portal vein, the pressure in this venous system can rise, resulting in a condition known as portal hypertension. This can result in bleeding into the abdomen. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders reports that portal hypertension can be treated with beta blockers.
Vein Shunts
More severe cases of portal hypertension may need to be treated with the use of shunts, which help open up blocked portions of the portal vein. A shunt helps create a tunnel through the scar tissue through which blood can flow from the portal vein. These shunts can be put into place using a catheter, according to the Society of Interventional Radiology. The tunnel is then held open using a small device called a stent.
Transplant
In the event that the liver is severely damaged by alcoholic liver cirrhosis, a liver transplant may be necessary. A liver transplant is a risky operation that requires a suitable donor. Even if the procedure is successful, the patient need to take drugs to suppress the immune system to keep the body from rejecting the transplanted liver. Organ transplantation is the only cure for a failing or failed liver, but it carries a high risk of potentially fatal complications that should be discussed with a trusted physician.
