The risk factors presently (2010) known are: * Quantity of alcohol taken: Consumption of 60–80g per day (14g is considered one standard drink in the US, i.e., 1.5 fl oz hard liquor, 5 fl oz wine, 12 fl oz beer; drinking a six-pack of 5% ABV beer daily would be 84g and just over the upper limit) for 20 years or more in men, or 20g/day for women significantly increases the risk of hepatitis and fibrosis by 6% to 41%, * Pattern of drinking: Drinking outside of meal times increases up to 3 times the risk of alcoholic liver disease. * Sex: Women are twice as susceptible to alcohol-related liver disease, and may develop alcoholic liver disease with shorter durations and doses of chronic consumption. The lesser amount of alcohol dehydrogenase secreted in the gut, higher proportion of body fat in women, and changes in fat absorption due to the menstrual cycle may explain this phenomenon. * Hepatitis C infection: A concomitant hepatitis C infection significantly accelerates the process of liver injury. * Genetic factors: Genetic factors predispose both to alcoholism and to alcoholic liver disease. Both monozygotic twins are more likely to be alcoholics and to develop liver cirrhosis than both dizygotic twins. Polymorphisms in the enzymes involved in the metabolism of alcohol, such as ADH, ALDH, CYP4502E1, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cytokine polymorphism may partly explain this genetic component. However, no specific polymorphisms have currently been firmly linked to alcoholic liver disease. * Iron overload (hemochromatosis) * Diet: Malnutrition, particularly vitamin A and E deficiencies, can worsen alcohol-induced liver damage by preventing regeneration of hepatocytes. This is particularly a concern as alcoholics are usually malnourished because of a poor diet, anorexia, and encephalopathy.
causes of Cirrhosis
causes of Hepatic encephalopathy
medical cause of Liver cancer
medical cause of Cirrhosis
causes of Ascites
complications of Cirrhosis
complications of Hepatitis
medical cause of Hepatitis