Complications
Complications
Complications of alcoholic hepatitis include:
- High blood pressure in the liver
Scar tissue can slow the flow of blood through your liver, causing an increase in pressure in a major blood vessel (portal vein). - Enlarged veins (varices)
Blood that can’t flow freely through the portal vein can back up into other blood vessels in the stomach and esophagus. These blood vessels have thin walls and are likely to bleed if filled with too much blood. Heavy bleeding in the upper stomach or esophagus is life-threatening and requires immediate medical care. - Ascites
Fluid that accumulates in the abdomen might become infected and require treatment with antibiotics. Ascites aren’t life-threatening but are usually a sign of advanced alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. - Jaundice
A damaged liver can’t remove the residue of old red blood cells (bilirubin) from your blood. Bilirubin builds up and is deposited in your skin and the whites of your eyes, causing a yellow color. - Confusion, drowsiness and slurred speech (hepatic encephalopathy)
A damaged liver has trouble removing toxins from your body. The buildup of toxins can damage your brain. Severe hepatic encephalopathy can result in coma. - Cirrhosis
This irreversible scarring of the liver frequently leads to liver failure. - Kidney failure
A damaged liver can affect blood flow to the kidneys, resulting in damage to those organs.