Introduction

Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) refers to liver damage caused by excess alcohol intake. There are several stages of severity and a range ofassociated symptoms.

ARLDdoesn't usually cause any symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged. When this happens, symptoms can include:

• feeling sick
• weight loss
• loss of appetite
• yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice)
• swelling in the anklesand tummy
• confusionor drowsiness
• vomiting blood or passing blood in your stools

This means ARLD is frequently diagnosed during tests for other conditions, or at a stage of advanced liver damage.

If youregularly drink alcohol to excess, tell your GP so they can check if your liver is damaged.

Each time your liver filters alcohol, some of the liver cells die.

The liver can develop new cells, but prolonged alcohol misuse (drinking too much)over many years can reduce its ability to regenerate. This canresult in serious andpermanent damage to your liver.

ARLD isvery common in the UKthe number of people with the condition has been increasing over the last few decadesas a result ofincreasing levels of alcohol misuse.

This iscalled alcoholic fatty liver disease, and is the first stage of ARLD.

Fatty liver disease rarely causes any symptoms, but it's an important warning sign that you're drinking at a harmful level.

Fatty liver disease is reversible. If you stop drinking alcohol for two weeks, your liver should return to normal.

Alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholichepatitis which is unrelated to infectious hepatitis is a potentially serious condition that can be caused by alcohol misuse over a longer period. When this develops, it may be the first time a person is aware they're damaging their liver through alcohol.

Less commonly, alcoholic hepatitis can occur if you drink a large amount of alcohol in a short period of time (binge drinking) .

The liver damage associated with mild alcoholic hepatitis is usually reversible if you stop drinking permanently.

Severe alcoholic hepatitis, however, is a seriousand life-threatening illness. Many people die from the condition each year in the UK, and some people only find out they have liver damage when their condition reaches this stage.

Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a stage ofARLD where the liver has become significantly scarred.Even at this stage, there may not be any obvious symptoms.

It's generally not reversible, but stopping drinking alcohol immediately can prevent further damage and significantly increase your life expectancy.

A person who hasalcohol-related cirrhosis and doesn't stop drinking has a less than 50% chance of living for at leastfive more years.

How ARLD is treated

There's currently no specific medical treatment for ARLD. The main treatment is to stop drinking, preferably for the rest of your life. This reduces the risk offurther damage to your liver andgivesit the best chance of recovering.

Ifa person isdependent on alcohol, stopping drinking can be very difficult. However, support, advice and medical treatment may be available through local alcohol support services .

A liver transplant may be required in severe cases where the liver has stopped functioning and doesn't improve when you stop drinking alcohol.

You'll only be considered for a liver transplant if you've developed complications of cirrhosis , despite having stopped drinking. All liver transplant units require a person to not drink alcohol while awaiting the transplant, and for the rest oftheir life.

Alcohol is now one of the most common causes of death in the UK, along with smoking and high blood pressure .

Life-threatening complications of ARLD include:

• internal (variceal) bleeding
• build-up of toxins in the brain (encephalopathy)
• fluid accumulation in the abdomen (ascites) with associated kidney failure
• liver cancer

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Preventing ARLD

The most effective way to preventARLD is to stop drinking alcohol or stick to the recommended limits:

• men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week
• spread your drinking over three days or more if you drink as much as 14 units a week

A unit of alcohol is equal to about half a pint of normal-strength lager or a pub measure (25ml) of spirits.

Even if you've been a heavy drinker for many years, reducing or stopping your alcohol intake will have important short- and long-term benefitsfor your liver and overall health.

See our drinking and alcohol pages for more information and advice.