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Review
. 2005;23(3-4):275-84.
doi: 10.1159/000090175.

Treatment of alcoholic liver disease

Affiliations
Review

Treatment of alcoholic liver disease

Ina Bergheim et al. Dig Dis. 2005.

Abstract

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. For example, the Veterans Administration Cooperative Studies reported that patients with cirrhosis and superimposed alcoholic hepatitis had a 4-year mortality of >60% (worse than many common cancers such as breast and prostate). The cornerstone for therapy for ALD is lifestyle modification, including drinking cessation and treatment of decompensation, if appropriate. Nutrition intervention has been shown to play a positive role on both an in-patient and out-patient basis. Corticosteroids are effective in selected patients with alcoholic hepatitis, and treatment with pentoxifylline appears to be a promising anti-inflammatory therapy. Recent studies have indicated anti-TNFalpha therapy, at least for alcoholic hepatitis. Some complementary and alternative medicinal agents, such as milk thistle and S-adenosylmethionine, may be effective in alcoholic cirrhosis. Treatment of the complications of ALD can improve the quality of life and, in some cases, decrease short-term mortality.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Selected clinical complications of ALD in which TNF may play a role.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Patient with alcoholic cirrhosis before and after 3 years of abstinence.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Effect of ethanol on methionine metabolism.

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