Alcohol’s Effect on Other Chronic Liver Diseases

Abstract In addition to directly causing liver disease, alcohol consumption is a common comorbid condition with other chronic liver diseases and may exacerbate liver injury, particularly in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic viral hepatitis, hereditary hemochromatosis, and autoimmune liver diseases. This synergism can result in increased hepatic inflammation and accelerated rates of fibrosis, with more rapid and earlier development of cirrhosis, and also increase the risk for liver cancer and death from liver disease.