7 causes of liver cirrhosis that have nothing to do with alcohol
Most of us think that liver cirrhosis or scarring of liver tissues that restrict the organ from functioning to its optimum is a result of substance abuse – alcohol and drugs. While this isn’t untrue, but they are not the only reasons behind liver cirrhosis. There are other lifestyle and physiological factors that can lead to the same. Here Dr Jay Kotecha, consultant gastroenterologist, SVR Hospital, Mumbai, talks about the other conditions that could lead to cirrhosis of liver:
1. Viral hepatitis: One of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis is viral hepatitis, like, hepatitis B, C or D. Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis B virus which leads to tissue damage and inflammation of the liver. On the other hand, hepatitis C or HCV is transmitted through blood, other body fluids or unprotected sex. This virus also leads to scarring and cirrhosis in later stages. While hepatitis D is very rare, but it can happen to people who were previously infected with hepatitis B, leading to the same fate of the liver. The thing with viral hepatitis is that the symptoms are silent during the initial days and when the condition comes to the forefront usually the damages done are irreversible.
2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: The name itself suggest that there is fat deposited in the liver. There are a number of lifestyle conditions that could lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity etc. Basically clogging of the arteries that happen due to fat deposits and cholesterol build-up in the liver (as it happens in the heart) leads to fatty liver. This causes scarring of healthy liver tissue which can lead to cirrhosis over a period of time. It could further lead to complications like jaundice, swelling of abdomen, feet etc.
3. Certain medications: Ayurvedic concoctions that have concentrations of heavy metals are known to damage the liver slowly and lead to cirrhosis. Prolonged use of prescription drugs like antidepressants and some antibiotics can also lead to liver cirrhosis.
4. Autoimmune hepatitis: This condition is different from viral hepatitis. In this condition, the body’s own immune mechanism starts to attack the cells of the liver leading to scarring and inflammation.
5. Damaged bile ducts: Primary biliary cirrhosis or damage to the well functioning bile ducts could also be a possible cause of liver cirrhosis. When this happens the ducts are unable to drain the bile formed in the liver that needs to be used for functions like digestion of fat and other fat soluble vitamins. Accumulation of the fluid then leads to scarring and damage to the liver.
6. Repeated heart failure: A study done in the year 2013 showed that liver stiffness increases in patients who suffer from heart conditions or heart failures, however, how much damage happens to the liver also depends on the severity of the heart problem. But liver stiffness is the measure of how weak the liver has become after a heart failure and if left untreated it can also lead to cirrhosis of liver [1].
7. Other chronic conditions: There are other chronic conditions that can also lead to liver cirrhosis like cystic fibrosis a genetic defect that affects liver function, or the ability of the organ to convert glycogen into glucose. Hematochromatos
is, where excess iron is absorbed and stored in the liver, can also lead to scarring, Wilson’s disease caused due to an abnormal amount of copper stored in the live, can also lead to damage and scarring.
Most of us think that liver cirrhosis or scarring of liver tissues that restrict the organ from functioning to its optimum is a result of substance abuse – alcohol and drugs. While this isn’t untrue, but they are not the only reasons behind liver cirrhosis. There are other lifestyle and physiological factors that can lead to the same. Here Dr Jay Kotecha, consultant gastroenterologist, SVR Hospital, Mumbai, talks about the other conditions that could lead to cirrhosis of liver:
1. Viral hepatitis: One of the leading causes of liver cirrhosis is viral hepatitis, like, hepatitis B, C or D. Hepatitis B is a viral infection caused by the hepatitis B virus which leads to tissue damage and inflammation of the liver. On the other hand, hepatitis C or HCV is transmitted through blood, other body fluids or unprotected sex. This virus also leads to scarring and cirrhosis in later stages. While hepatitis D is very rare, but it can happen to people who were previously infected with hepatitis B, leading to the same fate of the liver. The thing with viral hepatitis is that the symptoms are silent during the initial days and when the condition comes to the forefront usually the damages done are irreversible.
2. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: The name itself suggest that there is fat deposited in the liver. There are a number of lifestyle conditions that could lead to non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity etc. Basically clogging of the arteries that happen due to fat deposits and cholesterol build-up in the liver (as it happens in the heart) leads to fatty liver. This causes scarring of healthy liver tissue which can lead to cirrhosis over a period of time. It could further lead to complications like jaundice, swelling of abdomen, feet etc.
3. Certain medications: Ayurvedic concoctions that have concentrations of heavy metals are known to damage the liver slowly and lead to cirrhosis. Prolonged use of prescription drugs like antidepressants and some antibiotics can also lead to liver cirrhosis.
4. Autoimmune hepatitis: This condition is different from viral hepatitis. In this condition, the body’s own immune mechanism starts to attack the cells of the liver leading to scarring and inflammation.
5. Damaged bile ducts: Primary biliary cirrhosis or damage to the well functioning bile ducts could also be a possible cause of liver cirrhosis. When this happens the ducts are unable to drain the bile formed in the liver that needs to be used for functions like digestion of fat and other fat soluble vitamins. Accumulation of the fluid then leads to scarring and damage to the liver.
6. Repeated heart failure: A study done in the year 2013 showed that liver stiffness increases in patients who suffer from heart conditions or heart failures, however, how much damage happens to the liver also depends on the severity of the heart problem. But liver stiffness is the measure of how weak the liver has become after a heart failure and if left untreated it can also lead to cirrhosis of liver [1].
7. Other chronic conditions: There are other chronic conditions that can also lead to liver cirrhosis like cystic fibrosis a genetic defect that affects liver function, or the ability of the organ to convert glycogen into glucose. Hematochromatos
is, where excess iron is absorbed and stored in the liver, can also lead to scarring, Wilson’s disease caused due to an abnormal amount of copper stored in the live, can also lead to damage and scarring.
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