Cirrhosis is a potentially life-threatening illness in which healthy liver tissue is replaced with nonliving scar tissue. The disease does not develop overnight, but, rather, it stems from several years of ongoing damage to the liver. This damage may be inflicted upon the liver cells either directly or indirectly, and cirrhosis can often be attributed to more than one cause.
Alcohol
According to the American Gastroenterological Association, chronic alcoholism is the most common cause of cirrhosis in the United States. Although the amount of alcohol needed to damage the liver is extremely variable, the National Digestive Diseases Clearinghouse (NDDC) reports that, generally, women who consume two to three drinks daily (including beer and wine) and men who consume three to four daily are at an increased risk for cirrhosis.
Hepatitis
Chronic viral hepatitis (types B, C and D) causes the cells of the liver to become inflamed and can lead to cirrhosis. Hepatitis C is spread through contact with the blood of another infected person (such as through sharing needles for injecting heroin or cocaine or by getting a tattoo with unsanitary instruments). Hepatitis B and D are becoming less common because of the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccine--hepatitis D only develops in people who have already been infected with hepatitis B, so the vaccine offers dual protection, states the Hepatitis D Foundation.
Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
In nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, excess fat cells accumulate in the liver and cause inflammation that can lead to cirrhosis. The NDDC notes that this disease is becoming more common as obesity and diabetes become more prevalent.
Autoimmune Disease
In some instances, the body's immune system attacks the cells of the liver, inflicting the long-term damage that results in cirrhosis. The NDDC states that the exact cause of this immunologic breakdown has yet to be determined, but researchers believe that genetics may play a significant role. The NDDC estimates that 70 percent of patients with autoimmune hepatitis are women.
Biliary Cirrhosis
Bile is a fluid produced in the liver and released through ducts into the intestine to aid in digestion. Occasionally, these bile ducts can become inflamed, causing bile to back up in the liver--a condition known as primary biliary cirrhosis. Less commonly, the bile ducts are damaged during gallbladder or other abdominal surgery, resulting in secondary biliary cirrhosis.
Other Causes
Cirrhosis can also result from inherited diseases, such as Wilson's disease. This disease causes the liver to store too much copper. Reactions to some drugs (for example, amiodarone and methotrexate) and long-term exposure to environmental toxins may also lead to cirrhosis.
