What is the connection between alcohol-related liver disease and liver transplantation?
Most people who develop cirrhosis of the liver due to excessive alcohol use do not need a liver transplant, they just need to stop drinking. Abstinence from alcohol and treatment of complications of alcohol induced cirrhosis usually allow them to live for a long period of time without a liver transplant, potentially forever. For patients with advanced liver disease, where prolonged abstinence and medical treatment fail to restore health and liver disease is progressive then we discuss liver transplantation. All patients in this setting must be alcohol free for at least 6 months before they can be listed for a liver transplant.
Most people who develop cirrhosis of the liver due to excessive alcohol use do not need a liver transplant; they just need to stop drinking. Abstinence from alcohol and treatment of complications of alcohol induced cirrhosis usually allow them to live for a long period of time without a liver transplant, potentially forever. For patients with advanced liver disease, where prolonged abstinence and medical treatment fail to restore health and liver disease is progressive, we discuss liver transplantation. All patients in this setting must be alcohol free for at least 6 months before they can be listed for a liver transplant as well as attend Alcoholics Anonymous and have random alcohol and tox screens.
