Liver cirrhosis

Dear Ask The Doctor: I had a ct/mri scan of my whole body during a check up 8 month's ago. I told my doctor I had a history of drinking but have taken it down to 2 glasses of red a day. The results show a perfectly normal liver and spleen as did the blood test. My question is can cirrhosis develop in the nine month's it's been. I have been having pain on my right side and also feel my past will come back to haunt me. Thank You Philip

Dear Philip: If you limit your alcohol intake to 2 small glasses of red wine a day, this is within the recommended guidelines for males of <3 units of alcohol per day. The development of liver cirrhosis (scarring) is dependent on previous and present alcohol intake, intake of other liver toxins (e.g. medications) and predisposition to liver disease. You are unlikely to have developed cirrhosis during the last 9 months if your alcohol intake has remained within the guidelines, and your liver function tests and CT were both previously normal. A simple liver function test and ultrasound scan of the liver could be arranged by your family doctor and would be useful to exclude any liver damage, and relieve your concerns.