Cirrhosis - Highlights

Highlights

Lifestyle

• Coffee may help reduce the risk of cirrhosis, especially in heavy drinkers, suggests a 2006 study in the Archives of Internal Medicine. People who drank 4 or more cups of coffee a day cut their risk by 80%.
• Milk thistle does not reduce deaths from liver disease caused by alcohol or hepatitis, suggests a 2005 review in the Cochrane Database. The herb is a popular natural remedy for liver disorders.

Cirrhosis and Hepatitis C

Most people who have chronic hepatitis C for many decades will develop cirrhosis, according to a 2005 study. The study found that 70% of people who had chronic hepatitis C for more than 60 years eventually developed cirrhosis.

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Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are liver diseases that occur in people who drink little or no alcohol. They are mainly caused by obesity or type 2 diabetes.

• In 2005, the U.S. National Institutes of Health launched clinical trials to investigate treatments for children with NAFLD and adults with NASH. Patients will randomly receive vitamin E, a diabetes medication, or placebo.
• A blood test for a protein found in liver cells may provide a noninvasive approach for diagnosing NASH, suggests a 2006 study. Currently, a liver biopsy is the standard method for confirming NASH and distinguishing it from NAFLD.

Primary Biliary Cirrhosis

Primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) is a rare autoimmune liver disease that occurs primarily in women. According to a 2005 study, the main genetic and environmental risk factors for PBC are:

• Family history of PBC or Sjögren's syndrome
• Individual history of urinary tract infections, smoking, nail polish use, or hormone replacement therapy

A 2006 study suggested that exposure to chemicals from hazardous waste sites may trigger PBC in people who are genetically predisposed to the disorder.

Review Date: 08/18/2006
Reviewed By: Harvey Simon, M.D., Associate Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Physician, Massachusetts General Hospital.