Alcoholic hepatitis
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2008-07-16T16:20:49Z
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{{Infobox_Disease
| Name = Alcoholic hepatitis
| Image =
| Caption =
| DiseasesDB =
| ICD10 = K70.1
| ICD9 = {{ICD9|571.1}}
| ICDO =
| OMIM =
| MedlinePlus = 000281
| eMedicineSubj =
| eMedicineTopic = 101
| MeshID = D006519
}}
'''Alcoholic hepatitis''' is [[hepatitis]] (inflammation of the liver) due to excessive intake of [[alcoholic beverage|alcohol]]. While distinct from [[cirrhosis]], it is regarded as the earliest stage of [[alcoholic liver disease]]. Symptoms are [[jaundice]], [[ascites]] (fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity), [[Fatigue (medical)|fatigue]] and [[hepatic encephalopathy]] (brain dysfunction due to liver failure). Mild cases are self-limiting, but severe cases have a high risk of [[death]]. Severe cases may be treated with [[glucocorticoid|corticosteroids]].
==Symptoms and signs==
{{alcohealth}}
Alcoholic hepatitis is characterized by a variable constellation of symptoms, which may include feeling unwell, enlargement of the liver, development of fluid in the abdomen ascites, and modest elevation of liver blood tests. Alcoholic hepatitis can vary from mild with only liver test elevation to severe liver inflammation with development of jaundice, prolonged [[prothrombin time]], and liver failure. Severe cases are characterized by either [[obtundation]] (dulled consciousness) or the combination of elevated [[bilirubin]] levels and prolonged prothrombin time; the mortality rate in both categories is 50% within 30 days of onset.
Alcoholic hepatitis is distinct from cirrhosis caused by long term alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis can occur in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcoholic hepatitis by itself does not lead to cirrhosis, but cirrhosis is more common in patients with long term alcohol consumption.
Some alcoholics get an acute hepatitis or inflammatory reaction to the cells affected by fatty change. This is not directly related to the dose of alcohol. Some people seem more prone to this reaction than others. This is called alcoholic steatonecrosis and the inflammation probably predisposes to liver fibrosis.
==Diagnosis==
The ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase is usually > 2.<ref name="pmid10201476">{{cite journal |author=Sorbi D, Boynton J, Lindor KD |title=The ratio of aspartate aminotransferase to alanine aminotransferase: potential value in differentiating nonalcoholic steatohepatitis from alcoholic liver disease |journal=Am. J. Gastroenterol. |volume=94 |issue=4 |pages=1018–22 |year=1999 |pmid=10201476|doi=10.1111/j.1572-0241.1999.01006.x}}</ref>
==Pathophysiology==
Some signs and pathological changes in liver histology include:
* [[Mallory body|Mallory's Hyaline]] - a condition where pre-keratin filaments accumulate in hepatocytes. This sign is not limited to alcoholic liver disease, but is often characteristic.<ref name="robspath">{{cite book | title=Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease| last=Cotran| coauthors=Kumar, Collins| publisher=W.B Saunders Company| location=Philadelphia| id=0-7216-7335-X}}</ref>
* [[Ballooning degeneration]] - hepatocytes in the setting of alcoholic change often swell up with excess fat, water and [[proteins|protein]]; normally these proteins are exported into the bloodstream. Accompanied with ballooning, there is necrotic damage. The swelling is capable of blocking nearby biliary ducts, leading to diffuse [[cholestasis]].<ref name="robspath" />
* [[Inflammation]] - [[Neutrophil]]ic invasion is triggered by the necrotic changes and presence of cellular debris within the [[lobules]]. Ordinarily the amount of debris is removed by [[Kupffer cells]], although in the setting of inflammation they become overloaded, allowing other white cells to spill into the [[parenchyma]]. These cells to hepatocytes with Mallory bodies.<ref name="robspath" />
If chronic liver disease is also present:
* [[Variable fibrosis|fibrosis]]
* [[Cirrhosis]] - a progressive and permanent type of fibrotic degeneration of liver tissue.
==Treatment/Management==
[[Clinical practice guidelines]] by the [[American College of Gastroenterology]] recommend corticosteroids.<ref name="pmid9820369">{{cite journal |author=McCullough AJ, O'Connor JF |title=Alcoholic liver disease: proposed recommendations for the American College of Gastroenterology |journal=Am. J. Gastroenterol. |volume=93 |issue=11 |pages=2022–36 |year=1998 |pmid=9820369|doi=10.1111/j.1572-0241.1998.00587.x}}</ref>
===Corticosteroids===
Patients with a [[discriminant function]] score > 32 or hepatic encephalopathy should be considered for treatment with [[prednisolone]] 40 mg daily for four weeks followed by a taper.<ref name="pmid9820369"/>
===Pentoxifylline===
A randomized controlled trial found that among patients with a discriminant function score > 32 and at least one of the following symptoms (palpable tender hepatomegaly, fever, leukocytosis, hepatic encephalopathy, or hepatic systolic bruit), 4.6 patients [[number needed to treat| must be treated]] with [[pentoxifylline]] 400 mg orally 3 times daily for 4 weeks to prevent one patient from dying. <ref name="pmid11113085">{{cite journal |author=Akriviadis E, Botla R, Briggs W, Han S, Reynolds T, Shakil O |title=Pentoxifylline improves short-term survival in severe acute alcoholic hepatitis: a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial |journal=Gastroenterology |volume=119 |issue=6 |pages=1637–48 |year=2000 |pmid=11113085 |doi=10.1053/gast.2000.20189 }} ([http://www.acpjc.org/Content/135/1/ISSUE/ACPJC-2001-135-1-004.htm ACP Journal Club synopsis])</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{Gastroenterology}}
[[Category:Gastroenterology]]
[[Category:Hepatitis]]
[[Category:Inflammations]]
[[Category:Alcohol abuse]]
[[ar:التهاب كبدي كحولي]]
[[de:Alkohol-Hepatitis]]
[[pl:Alkoholowe zapalenie wątroby]]