Causes of liver disease:
Owing to the wide variety of functions that the liver performs, several disorders can affect it and cause its failure, including:
- Excessive alcohol consumption: Nowadays, it presents the majority of cases of chronic liver disease in Western countries. Alcohol is toxic to liver cells and causes the accumulation of fat within and over them. This causes a condition called alcoholic steatohepatitis, which gradually progresses to cirrhosis.
- Viral hepatitis: Five viruses can specifically affect the liver, namely hepatitis viruses A, B, C, D, and E. Other viruses like cytomegalovirus or Epstein-Barr virus can also affect the liver as a part of a multisystemic disorder. Viral hepatitis can be acute or chronic, and chronic cases can progress to cirrhosis. The 2 viruses that commonly cause cirrhosis are Hepatitis B and C viruses. Most of the above viruses are transmitted by blood and to a lesser extent through sexual intercourse and secretions. Hepatitis A and E viruses, however, are transmitted through contaminated food.
- Fatty liver disease: Because of the high prevalence of fatty diets in our meals, the prevalence of the fatty liver disease is increasing. Fatty liver has been recognized as one of the commonest causes of liver affection nowadays. The general term used for these cases is Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
- Autoimmune hepatitis: Several syndromes and conditions can cause autoimmune hepatitis. The body attacks its cells in autoimmune conditions, and in this case, it attacks liver cells. The condition develops in a similar way to viral hepatitis and has a similar outcome.
- Drug-induced hepatitis: Any drug that is metabolized by the liver can cause hepatitis. Some drugs are more liable to cause hepatitis than others. Famous drugs that can damage the liver include Paracetamol -in large doses-, antiepileptic drugs, some antibiotics, and steroids.
- Rare metabolic diseases: Some rare metabolic diseases can affect the liver. Examples include hemochromatosis, which is the accumulation of iron inside body cells including the liver. Iron becomes toxic and can cause cirrhosis. Another example is Wilson’s disease, which is the defective transport of copper in the body and its accumulation in liver cells.