Alcoholic Hepatitis

Excessive alcohol intake is quite common across the globe, and it is a leading cause of preventable death.  Most people who drink heavily have fatty liver changes.  Some will have cirrhosis of the liver, and one to two percent of those clients will ultimately get a diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma [1].  Alcoholic cirrhosis is the eighth most common cause of death in the United States [1].

Over the years, the occurrence of alcoholic hepatitis has increased.  There are several types of alcoholic liver disease, but this is the most advanced form.  In the United States, the prevalence of alcoholic hepatitis in heavy drinkers may be 20 percent.  The number of new cases each year in that country is not clear [1]. 

Some alcoholics will be more prone than others to develop hepatitis, and this may have to do with genetic predisposition, gender, age, or the presence of overweight or obesity.  Women tend to be more susceptible than men because women have greater body fat content than men.  There are also variations in metabolism between men and women, and these may place women at especial risk [1, 2].

Nutrition has a significant role for its occurrence.  Those who consume too much alcohol tend to become deficient in several vitamins and minerals.  Moreover, the presence of other types of liver disease will increase the patient’s risk [1, 2].

The most effective intervention for this medical condition is cessation of alcohol intake.  However, some patients who eventually stop or reduce their consumption will still progress to the disease      [1, 2].

Alcoholic hepatitis is a serious medical condition which occurs across the globe.  Cessation of alcohol intake is the most important approach to prevent or lessen its occurrence and severity.

1. Dugum, M., Zein, N., McCullough, A., et al.  (2015).  Alcoholic hepatitis:  Challenges in diagnosis and management.  Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, 82, 226-236.
2. Drinane, M. and Shah, V.  (2013).  Alcoholic hepatitis:  Diagnosis and prognosis.  Clinical Liver Disease, 2, 80-83.
3. The photo is a microscopic view of human liver and shows Mallory bodies, which are present in some patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact their physician for advice.