Common Causes And Risk Factors For Esophageal Varices

Significant Liver Scarring

Significant liver scarring can cause esophageal varices to develop. There are many liver diseases that can cause this scarring, otherwise known as cirrhosis, such as hepatitis infections, fatty liver disease, alcoholic liver disease, and primary biliary cirrhosis. Every time the liver becomes damaged by disease or injury, it attempts to repair itself, causing scar tissue to form. When there's a certain amount of scar tissue, the liver's ability to function in general is impeded. Advanced liver scarring can lead to life-threatening conditions, such as liver failure. It's important for cirrhosis to be diagnosed and treated early because the damage from cirrhosis is usually irreversible.

Liver Failure

Severe cirrhosis, as mentioned, might cause liver failure. The more severe the cirrhosis, the greater the chances esophageal varices will bleed. Though any kind of cirrhosis can lead to the development of esophageal varices, the increased pressure from advanced cirrhosis makes rupturing more likely. Liver failure occurs when the liver becomes too damaged to carry out its normal functions. When the condition occurs over months or years, the most common causes are cirrhosis, excessive long-term alcohol consumption, malnutrition, hemochromatosis, or hepatitis B or C. Acute liver failure occurs when the liver fails rapidly. It can be caused by an acetaminophen overdose, hepatitis A, B, and C, reactions to medications, or the ingestion of poisonous mushrooms. Liver failure's early symptoms include fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and a loss of appetite. As it progresses, symptoms include a swollen abdomen, mental confusion, bleeding, jaundice, fatigue, and coma. Liver failure is a life-threatening condition that requires emergency medical treatment.