Chronic long-term alcohol abuse and hepatitis C infection are the most common causes of cirrhosis of the liver, according to the National Institutes of Health. Other conditions may lead to cirrhosis and many people have multiple risk factors at work. Cirrhosis is characterized by scar tissue in the liver, however, it is not caused by trauma or short-term problems but by long-term gradual injury. Symptoms of liver cirrhosis may include fatigue, nausea, abdominal pain and swelling, bruising, itching and spider veins on the skin. Cirrhosis is irreversible and leads to organ failure. Liver transplant may be the only treatment.
Alcohol Related
Over time, the toxic effects of alcohol affect the liver's ability to digest fats and proteins and to detoxify the blood. Fatty deposits begin to build up in the liver, causing inflammation and scarring, or cirrhosis. If the person stops drinking in time, cirrhosis may be slowed and may not progress to liver failure. The American Academy of Family Physicians advises that women who abuse alcohol are at greater risk of developing cirrhosis than men who drink the same amount. Binge drinking as well as regular long-term alcohol use can contribute to liver cirrhosis.
Hepatitis C Infection
A virus transmitted by blood, hepatitis C is common among IV drug addicts. Kidney dialysis patients are also at risk, as are those who received blood transfusions prior to 1990, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Unsterilized medical or dental instruments, tattoo, piercing or manicure equipment are hazards. The virus causes gradual damage to the liver over several years. Chemotherapy treatments may eliminate the virus or slow its progression but are not appropriate for everyone infected with hepatitis C. Currently there is no vaccine for hepatitis C as there is for hepatitis B, another virus which may contribute to cirrhosis.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
A third type of cirrhosis is caused by the build up of fat deposits in the liver, similar to alcohol-related cirrhosis but occurring in non-drinkers. According to the National Institutes of Health, this increasingly common condition is associated with obesity, diabetes, protein deficiency, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, and the long-term use of corticosteroid medications. Inflammation of the liver due to fatty deposits unrelated to alcohol consumption is called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Symptoms, such as weakness, fatigue or weight loss, may not be apparent until the liver disease is far advanced or cirrhosis develops. The condition may be detected in common blood tests and confirmed by liver biopsy. Damage occurs gradually, over many years, as in the other types of cirrhosis.
