15. Liver Disease Due to Alcohol

  1. E. Jenny Heathcote MB, BS, MD, FRCP, FRCP(C)3,4,5,6
  1. Nazia Selzner MD, PhD1,2

Published Online: 4 SEP 2012

DOI: 10.1002/9781118314968.ch15

Book Title

Hepatology: Diagnosis and Clinical Management

Hepatology: Diagnosis and Clinical Management

Additional Information

How to Cite

Selzner, N. (2012) Liver Disease Due to Alcohol, in Hepatology: Diagnosis and Clinical Management (ed E. J. Heathcote), Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford, UK. doi: 10.1002/9781118314968.ch15

Editor Information

  1. 3

    Francis Family Chair in Hepatology Research, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  2. 4

    University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  3. 5

    Patient Based Clinical Research Division, Toronto Western Research Institute, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  4. 6

    University Health Network/Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Author Information

  1. 1

    Multi Organ Transplant Program, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

  2. 2

    Division of Gastroenterology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Publication History

  1. Published Online: 4 SEP 2012
  2. Published Print: 12 OCT 2012

ISBN Information

Print ISBN: 9780470656174

Online ISBN: 9781118314968

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Keywords:

  • alcoholic liver disease;
  • fatty liver;
  • steatosis;
  • nutrition

Summary

There is a spectrum of clinical and laboratory findings in patients with alcoholic liver disease, ranging from asymptomatic fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis to end-stage liver failure with jaundice, coagulopathy, and encephalopathy. Abstinence is the cornerstone of treatment of alcoholic liver disease. Nutritional deficiencies should be sought and treated aggressively. Corticosteroids should be used in patients with a definite diagnosis of severe alcoholic hepatitis, who have a discriminant function of more than 32, hepatic encephalopathy, or both.

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