We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Conditions

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Are the Stages of Liver Damage?

By H. Colledge
Updated: Mar 03, 2024
Views: 27,236
Share

There are four stages of liver damage known as fatty liver, hepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. Although liver damage is reversible in the early stages, the changes of cirrhosis are not. Sometimes fibrosis and cirrhosis are considered as one stage, making three main stages altogether. Most often, liver damage is caused by excessive consumption of alcohol, although what is called nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) progresses through similar stages. NAFLD is associated with obesity and is becoming more common.

Symptoms may not be noticeable in the early stages of liver damage. In the first stage, fatty liver, abnormally large amounts of fat accumulate inside liver cells. When this is caused by alcohol, fat can build up after only a few days of heavy drinking. Other causes of liver damage, such as drugs, a condition called fatty liver of pregnancy and NAFLD, lead to very similar changes. Where alcohol is the cause, stopping drinking reverses the problem within a couple of weeks.

If the fat deposits of fatty liver become severe, people may experience symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea and weakness. The liver damage might progress to the next stage, hepatitis, where the liver is inflamed. In alcoholic hepatitis, there may be no symptoms, but problems such as jaundice, pain, nausea and tiredness may occur. Occasionally, a sudden, heavy bout of drinking can cause severe hepatitis and liver failure, followed by coma and death. This can occur even though a person has not yet developed the later stages of liver damage.

Fibrosis, the third stage, is the process of scar formation. Scarring may gradually build up in the liver, causing cells to die and reducing the liver's blood supply. As long as sufficient numbers of liver cells remain, the liver continues to function. Eventually, cirrhosis develops, where the normal liver tissue is replaced by lumps known as nodules. The liver no longer functions properly and the person may have numerous symptoms including jaundice, a painful, swollen abdomen, weight loss and personality changes.

Treatment methods vary according to the different stages of liver damage and the underlying cause. Giving up alcohol, or losing weight, can reverse some cases of fatty liver and hepatitis. Severe hepatitis may require intensive care in the hospital, while cirrhosis has no cure and a liver transplant may become necessary. Usually, it takes several years for people to progress from asymptomatic to end-stage liver disease, so there may be many opportunities for reversal.

Share
The Health Board is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
By anon284753 — On Aug 11, 2012

The wife of a friend clearly overindulges in alcohol and has done so for approximately 35-40 years. She does not believe she has a problem but he tells me of her not wanting to eat, recently having serious falls, being socially withdrawn, and what appears to be blackouts. For example, she does not recall conversations hours after and also how she hurt herself when badly bruised. Does this sound like alcohol abuse, alcoholism or some stage of liver disease?

Recently, she also had a wound on her ankle that never healed and saw a wound specialist but has stopped. She is also a heavy smoker.

Share
https://www.thehealthboard.com/what-are-the-stages-of-liver-damage.htm
Copy this link
The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

The Health Board, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.