Alcoholic liver disease

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Digestive system

Digestive system organs

Liver disease due to alcohol; Cirrhosis or hepatitis - alcoholic; Laennec's cirrhosis

• Loss of appetite
• Nausea
• Jaundice
• Abdominal pain and tenderness
• Fever
• Ascites (fluid collection in the abdomen)
• Unintentional weight gain (because of fluid collection)
• Mental confusion
• Excessive thirst
• Dry mouth
• Fatigue

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Bloody or dark black or tarry bowel movements (melena)
• Abnormally dark or light skin
• Redness on feet or hands
• Paleness
• Light-headedness or fainting, especially with upright posture
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) when rising to standing position
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Breast development in males
• Impaired ability to concentrate
• Agitation
• Fluctuating mood
• Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
• Impaired judgment
• Confusion (encephalopathy)
  • Altered level of consciousness
  • Impaired short- or long-term memory
  • Hallucinations

Symptoms vary with the severity of the disease and are usually worse after a recent period of heavy drinking.

• A CBC may show anemia and other abnormalities.
• Liver function tests such as ALP are abnormal.
• Liver biopsy shows alcoholic liver disease.

Tests to rule out other diseases include:

• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• CT scan – abdominal
• Blood tests for other causes of liver disease

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Reticulocyte count
• Ferritin
• Alpha fetoprotein

Review Date: 05/04/2006
Reviewed By: Jenifer K. Lehrer, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Frankford-Torresdale Hospital, Jefferson Health System, Philadelphia, PA. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.