Alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease is a term that encompasses the hepatic manifestations of alcohol over
consumption, including fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and chronic hepatitis with hepatic fibrosis
or cirrhosis.[1] It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries. Although steatosis (fatty
liver) will develop in any individual who consumes a large quantity of alcoholic beverages over a
long period of time, this process is transient and reversible.[1] Of all chronic heavy drinkers, only
1520% develop hepatitis or cirrhosis, which can occur concomitantly or in succession.[2]
How alcohol damages the liver is not completely understood. 80% of alcohol passes through the
liver to be detoxified. Chronic consumption of alcohol results in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL6 and IL8), oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and
acetaldehyde toxicity. These factors cause inflammation, apoptosis and eventually fibrosis of
liver cells. Why this occurs in only a few individuals is still unclear. Additionally, the liver has
tremendous capacity to regenerate and even when 75% of hepatocytes are dead, it continues to
function as normal.[3]

Risk factors
The risk factors presently known are:

Quantity of alcohol taken: consumption of 6080g per day (about 75100 ml/day) for
20 years or more in men, or 20g/day (about 25 ml/day) for women significantly increases
the risk of hepatitis and fibrosis by 7 to 47%,[1][4]

Pattern of drinking: drinking outside of meal times increases up to 2.7 times the risk of
alcoholic liver disease.[2]

Gender: females are twice as susceptible to alcohol related liver disease, and may
develop alcoholic liver disease with shorter durations and doses of chronic consumption.
The lesser amount of alcohol dehydrogenase secreted in the gut, higher proportion of
body fat in women, and changes in fat absorption due to the with menstrual cycle may
explain this phenomenon.[2]

Hepatitis C infection: a concomitant hepatitis C infection significantly accelerates the

Genetic factors: genetic factors predispose both to alcoholism and to alcoholic liver
disease. Monozygotic twins are more likely to be alcoholics and to develop liver cirrhosis
than dizygotic twins. Polymorphisms in the enzymes involved in the metabolism of
alcohol, such as ADH, ALDH, CYP4502E1, mitochondrial dysfunction, and cytokine
polymorphism may partly explain this genetic component. However, no specific
polymorphisms have currently been firmly linked to alcoholic liver disease.

Iron overload (hemochromatosis)

Diet: malnutrition, particularly vitamin A and E deficiencies, can worsen alcohol-induced

Pathophysiology
Fatty change
Main article: Fatty liver
Fatty change, or steatosis is the accumulation of fatty acids in liver cells. These can be seen as
fatty globules under the microscope. Alcoholism causes development of large fatty globules
(macro vesicular steatosis) throughout the liver and can begin to occur after a few days of heavy
drinking.[5] Alcohol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH) into acetaldehyde, then
further metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) into acetic acid, which is finally
oxidized into carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O).[6] This process generates NADH, and
increases the NADPH/NADP+ ratio. A higher NADH concentration induces fatty acid synthesis
while a decreased NAD level results in decreased fatty acid oxidation. Subsequently, the higher
levels of fatty acids signal the liver cells to compound it to glycerol to form triglycerides. These
triglycerides accumulate, resulting in fatty liver.

Alcoholic hepatitis
Main article: Alcoholic hepatitis
Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by the inflammation of hepatocytes. Between 10% and 35%
of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis (NIAAA, 1993). While development of hepatitis is
not directly related to the dose of alcohol, some people seem more prone to this reaction than
others[citation needed]. This is called alcoholic steato necrosis and the inflammation appears to
predispose to liver fibrosis. Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL6 and IL8) are thought to be
essential in the initiation and perpetuation of liver injury by inducing apoptosis and necrosis. One
possible mechanism for the increased activity of TNF- is the increased intestinal permeability
due to liver disease. This facilitates the absorption of the gut-produced endotoxin into the portal
circulation. The Kupffer cells of the liver then phagocytose endotoxin, stimulating the release of
TNF-. TNF- then triggers apoptotic pathways through the activation of caspases, resulting in
cell death.[2]

Cirrhosis
Main article: Cirrhosis

Cirrhosis is a late stage of serious liver disease marked by inflammation (swelling), fibrosis
(cellular hardening) and damaged membranes preventing detoxification of chemicals in the body,
ending in scarring and necrosis (cell death). Between 10% to 20% of heavy drinkers will develop
cirrhosis of the liver (NIAAA, 1993). Acetaldehyde may be responsible for alcohol-induced
fibrosis by stimulating collagen deposition by hepatic stellate cells.[2] The production of oxidants
derived from NADPH oxi- dase and/or cytochrome P-450 2E1 and the formation of
acetaldehyde-protein adducts damage the cell membrane.[2]
Symptoms include jaundice (yellowing), liver enlargement, and pain and tenderness from the
structural changes in damaged liver architecture. Without total abstinence from alcohol use, will
eventually lead to liver failure. Late complications of cirrhosis or liver failure include portal
hypertension (high blood pressure in the portal vein due to the increased flow resistance through
the damaged liver), coagulation disorders (due to impaired production of coagulation factors),
ascites (heavy abdominal swelling due to build up of fluids in the tissues) and other
complications, including hepatic encephalopathy and the hepatorenal syndrome.
Cirrhosis can also result from other causes than alcohol abuse, such as viral hepatitis and heavy
exposure to toxins other than alcohol. The late stages of cirrhosis may look similar medically,
regardless of cause. This phenomenon is termed the "final common pathway" for the disease.
Fatty change and alcoholic hepatitis with abstinence can be reversible. The later stages of fibrosis
and cirrhosis tend to be irreversible, but can usually be contained with abstinence for long
periods of time.

Diagnosis
There are many tests to assess alcoholic liver damage. Besides blood examination,
doctors use ultrasound and a CT scan to assess liver damage. In some cases a liver
biopsy is performed. This minor procedure is done under local anesthesia, and
involves placing a small needle in the liver and obtaining a piece of tissue. The
tissue is then sent to the laboratory to be examined under a microscope. The
differential diagnoses for fatty liver non-alcoholic steatosis, drug-induced steatosis,
include diabetes, obesity and starvation.

Treatment
The first treatment of alcohol-induced liver disease is cessation of alcohol
consumption. This is the only way to reverse liver damage or prevent liver injury
from worsening. Without treatment, most patients with alcohol-induced liver
damage will develop liver cirrhosis. Other treatment for alcoholic hepatitis include:

Early Treatments
In the 1920s, it was believed that a "Liver Exercise" could help with a large amount of Alcohol
Consumption.[citation needed]

Nutrition
Doctors recommend a calorie-rich diet to help the liver in its regeneration process. Dietary fat
must be reduced because fat interferes with alcohol metabolism. The diet is usually
supplemented with vitamins and dietary minerals (including calcium and iron).[citation needed]
Many nutritionists recommend a diet high in protein, with frequent small meals eaten during the
day, about 56 instead of the usual 3. Nutritionally, supporting the liver and supplementing with
nutrients that enhance liver function is recommended. These include carnitine, which will help
reverse fatty livers, and vitamin C, which is an antioxidant, aids in collagen synthesis, and
increases the production of neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine and serotonin, as well as
supplementing with the nutrients that have been depleted due to the alcohol consumption.
Eliminating any food that may be manifesting as an intolerance and alkalizing the body is also
important. There are some supplements that are recommended to help reduce cravings for
alcohol, including choline, glutamine, and vitamin C. As research shows glucose increases the
toxicity of centrilobular hepatotoxicants by inhibiting cell division and repair, it is suggested
fatty acids are used by the liver instead of glucose as a fuel source to aid in repair; thus, it is
recommended the patient consumes a diet high in protein and essential fatty acids, e.g. omega 3.
Cessation of alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking, and increasing exercise are lifestyle
recommendations to decrease the risk of liver disease caused by alcoholic stress.[citation needed]

Drugs
Abstinence from alcohol intake and nutritional modification form the backbone in the
management of ALD. Symptom treatment can include: corticosteroids for severe cases,
anticytokines (infliximab and pentoxifylline), propylthiouracil to modify metabolism and
colchicine to inhibit hepatic fibrosis.

Antioxidants
It is widely believed[by whom?] that alcohol-induced liver damage occurs via generation of oxidants.
[citation needed]
Thus alternative health care practitioners routinely recommend natural antioxidant
supplements like milk thistle[citation needed]. Currently, there exists no substantive clinical evidence to
suggest that milk thistle or other antioxidant supplements are efficacious beyond placebo in
treating liver disease caused by chronic alcohol consumption.[7][8]

Transplant
When all else fails and the liver is severely damaged, the only alternative is a liver transplant.
While this is a viable option, liver transplant donors are scarce and usually there is a long waiting
list in any given hospital. One of the criteria to become eligible for a liver transplant is to
discontinue alcohol consumption for a minimum of six months.[9]
Complications and prognosis

As the liver scars, the blood vessels become noncompliant and narrow. This leads to
increased pressure in blood vessels entering the liver. Over time, this causes a
backlog of blood (portal hypertension), and is associated with massive bleeding.
Enlarged veins, also known as varicose veins, also develop to bypass the blockages
in the liver. These veins are very fragile and have a tendency to rupture and bleed.
Variceal bleeding can be life-threatening and needs emergency treatment. Once the
liver is damaged, fluid builds up in the abdomen and legs. The fluid buildup presses
on the diaphragm and can make breathing very difficult. [10] As liver damage
progresses, the liver is unable to get rid of pigments like bilirubin and both the skin
and eyes turn yellow (jaundice). The dark pigment also causes the urine to appear
dark; however, the stools appear pale. Also with the progression of the disease, the
liver can release toxic substances (including ammonia) which then lead to brain
damage. This results in altered mental state, and may cause behavior and
personality changes.