Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic Liver Disease is a condition that affects the liver, an organ responsible for filtering toxins and aiding digestion. It occurs due to long-term excessive alcohol consumption, which damages liver cells and causes inflammation. This damage can lead to symptoms like fatigue, abdominal pain, and jaundice, which is yellowing of the skin and eyes. Over time, the liver may develop scarring called cirrhosis, impairing its ability to function properly. The disease can progress silently for years before causing serious health problems such as liver failure or increased risk of infections.

Alcoholic Liver Disease (ALD) is a spectrum of liver disorders caused by chronic excessive alcohol intake leading to hepatocellular injury. The core pathology involves steatosis (fat accumulation), alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and necrosis), and eventual fibrosis progressing to cirrhosis. The mechanism includes direct toxic effects of ethanol and its metabolite acetaldehyde, oxidative stress, and immune-mediated injury. ALD is a major cause of chronic liver disease worldwide and can result in complications such as portal hypertension, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Diagnosis is often supported by clinical history, laboratory abnormalities, and liver biopsy findings. The disease severity correlates with the amount and duration of alcohol use, as well as genetic and nutritional factors.