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Review
. 2014 Sep 28;20(36):12934-44.
doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12934.

Alcoholic liver disease: treatment

Ki Tae Suk  1 , Moon Young Kim  1 , Soon Koo Baik  1
Affiliations
Review

Alcoholic liver disease: treatment

Ki Tae Suk et al. World J Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

The excess consumption of alcohol is associated with alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). ALD is a major healthcare problem, personal and social burden, and significant reason for economic loss worldwide. The ALD spectrum includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of ALD is based on a combination of clinical features, including a history of significant alcohol intake, evidence of liver disease, and laboratory findings. Abstinence is the most important treatment for ALD and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines. In addition, new therapeutic targets are being under investigation.

Keywords: Alcoholic; Liver disease; Treatment.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Total adult per capita consumption (World Health Organization Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, 2011).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Therapeutic algorithm of alcoholic liver disease.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Therapeutic algorithm of severe alcoholic hepatitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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