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Risk Factors for Cirrhosis

Authors:
  • Cynthia M. Johnson, MA
Publication Type:

ConditionInDepth

Risk Factors for Cirrhosis

A risk factor is something that raises the risk of getting a health problem. A person can get cirrhosis with or without the ones listed below. The risk of getting it are greater in people who have many.

Risk factors for cirrhosis are:

Drinking Excess Amounts of Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic to liver cells. It damages the liver by changing how the body breaks down food. Drinking excess amounts of alcohol over a long period of time raises the risk of cirrhosis.

People who have alcohol use disorder often have poor diets. This can also lead to cirrhosis.

Drinking Excess Amounts of Alcohol

Alcohol is toxic to liver cells. It damages the liver by changing how the body breaks down food. Drinking excess amounts of alcohol over a long period of time raises the risk of cirrhosis.

People who have alcohol use disorder often have poor diets. This can also lead to cirrhosis.

Health Problems

Hepatitis Infection

Hepatitis infections are caused by viruses. The viruses are spread from exposure to body fluids from a person who is infected. Some infections go away on their own. Others may last a long time and lead to liver inflammation and injury. Over time, this can lead to cirrhosis.

Common types are:

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a buildup of fat in the liver that is not caused by drinking alcohol. It can lead to a type of NAFLD called nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This can lead to cirrhosis. This type of hepatitis is linked to:

Bile Duct Diseases

Some health problems damage the bile ducts. The bile can then back up and damage liver tissue. This can lead to cirrhosis. Some of these health problems in adults are:

  • Primary biliary cirrhosis
  • Primary sclerosing cholangitis
  • Gallstones
  • Pancreatitis
  • Injuries from gallbladder surgery

In infants, blocked bile ducts may happen due to biliary atresia. This is when the bile ducts are injured or missing at birth.

Hepatic Congestion

Health problems like heart failure or constrictive pericarditis can cause congestion in the liver. Over time, this can lead to scarring.

Inherited Disorders

Some inherited disorders cause liver problems and damage. Some of these health problems are:

  • Hemochromatosis —causes the body to absorb and store too much iron
  • Wilson disease —causes the body to absorb excess copper
  • Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency—the body is lacking a protein made in the liver that is needed to block certain enzymes
  • Galactosemia—a problem where sugar called galactose builds up in the body
  • Glycogen storage diseases—the body cannot break down a sugar called glycogen, causing it to build up in the liver
  • Cystic fibrosis—the body makes a thick and sticky mucus that can damage the liver
  • Budd-Chiari syndrome—blood clots fully or partially block blood flow from the liver

Autoimmune Hepatitis

This problem happens when the body's immune system attacks liver cells.

Other Factors

Other health problems that can damage the liver are:

  • A severe reaction to drugs, such as isoniazid and methotrexate
  • Long term exposure to toxins, such as arsenic
  • Repeat bouts of heart failure with liver congestion
  • Schistosomiasis—a parasitic infection

References

  • Autoimmune hepatitis. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/autoimmune-hepatitis.
  • Cirrhosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/liver-disease/cirrhosis.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver. American Liver Foundation website. Available at: https://liverfoundation.org/liver-diseases/complications-of-liver-disease/cirrhosis.
  • Cirrhosis of the liver. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: https://www.dynamed.com/condition/cirrhosis-of-the-liver-31.
  • Smith A, Baumgartner K, et al. Cirrhosis: diagnosis and management. Am Fam Physician. 2019;100(12):759-770.
  • What is viral hepatitis? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/abc/index.htm.

Contributors

  • Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD
Last Updated:
2022-11-01

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This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.