Spectrum of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Kristina Rachel Chacko; John Reinus

doi:10.1016/j.cld.2016.02.002

Spectrum of Alcoholic Liver Disease

Clin Liver Dis. 2016 Aug;20(3):419-27. doi: 10.1016/j.cld.2016.02.002. Epub 2016 May 31.

Authors

Kristina Rachel Chacko¹, John Reinus²

Affiliations

¹ Division of Gastroenterology & Liver Diseases, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, USA.
² Department of Clinical Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 111 East 210th Street, Rosenthal 2C, Bronx, NY 10467, USA. Electronic address: jreinus@montefiore.org.

PMID: 27373606
DOI: 10.1016/j.cld.2016.02.002

Abstract

Liver disease from excessive alcohol consumption is an important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is a clear relationship between alcohol and a variety of health and socioeconomic problems. According to the World Health Organization, 3.3 million people die of alcohol-related causes annually. Despite public knowledge of its potential adverse effects, alcohol consumption and the morbidity and mortality from alcoholic liver disease (ALD) have increased. ALD comprises a spectrum of injury, including simple steatosis, acute alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis. Rather than being distinct disease entities, these pathologic processes frequently overlap.

Keywords: Alcoholic hepatitis; Alcoholic liver disease; Epidemiology of alcohol abuse; Risk factors for alcoholic liver disease.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Alcohol Drinking
Fatty Liver, Alcoholic / etiology
Female
Hepatitis, Alcoholic / etiology
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / etiology
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / epidemiology
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / etiology*
Male
Risk Factors