Alcoholic liver disease history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

History

• Recent history of heavy drinking
• Chronic alcohol intake i.e. > 80 g/d in men and 40 g/d in women with alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis.

Symptoms

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

Other symptoms that can occur with this disease:

• Abnormally dark or light skin
• Agitation
• Bloody, dark black, or tarry bowel movements (melena)
• Breast development in males
• Changing mood
• Confusion (encephalopathy)

• Changed level of consciousness
• Hallucinations
• Impaired short- or long-term memory

• Difficulty paying attention (attention deficit)
• Impaired ability to concentrate
• Impaired judgment
• Light-headedness or fainting, especially when standing
• Paleness
• Rapid heart rate (tachycardia) when rising to standing position
• Redness on feet or hands
• Slow, sluggish, lethargic movement
• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds

Symptoms vary based on the severity of the disease. They are usually worse after a recent period of heavy drinking.

2010 AASLD/ACG Alcoholic Liver Disease Guidelines : Abstinence (DO NOT EDIT)

Class I

1. " Clinicians should discuss alcohol use with patients, and any suspicion of possible abuse or excess should prompt use of a structured questionnaire and further evaluation. (Level of evidence: C) "

2. " Patients with alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and suggestive symptoms should be screened for evidence of other end-organ damage, as appropriate. (Level of evidence: C) "