Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease encompasses a spectrum from fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis, due to chronic alcohol use, presenting with asymptomatic elevation, jaundice, ascites, or encephalopathy. Treatment: complete abstinence; nutritional support; stage-specific treatment (fatty liver: observation; hepatitis: corticosteroids if severe; cirrhosis: treat complications/varices/ascites/encephalopathy/SBP); screen for hepatocellular carcinoma; liver transplant evaluation for end-stage; treat addiction; monitor for infection/renal failure; follow-up.

Common Symptoms

Asymptomatic/jaundice/ascites/encephalopathy; spectrum of alcohol injury

Causes and Pathogenesis

Chronic alcohol causes fat accumulation, inflammation, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.

Treatment

Abstinence; nutrition; stage-specific treatment; screen HCC; transplant eval

Preventive Measures

Limit alcohol; balanced diet; early medical care.

Department to Visit

It is recommended to visit the Gastroenterology/Hepatology/Addiction-medicine/Transplant department; an appointment can be booked on this platform before the visit.

Warm reminder: The above information is for health science reference only and cannot replace professional medical diagnosis. If you have related symptoms, please seek medical attention at a regular hospital promptly.