Alcoholic hepatitis (patient information)

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Shadan Mehraban, M.D.[2]

Alcoholic hepatitis is the inflammation of liver which is caused by excessive drinking alcohol over the time. However, the association between the amount and period of drinking alcohol and development of alcoholic hepatitis is not clear. Alcoholic hepatitis may develop after short time of drinking.

• Symptoms of Alcoholic hepatitis can vary from mild to severe. The symptoms include:
  • Nausea
  • Malaise
  • Low-grade fever
  • Abdominal Pain
  • Yellow discoloration of skin
  • Increased abdominal girth due to Ascites
  • Gastrointestinal bleeding due to variceal hemorrhage
  • Lack of appetite
  • Confusion
  • Lethargy

Alcoholic Hepatitis is suspected to occur in patients with excessive drinking over the decades.

• Alcoholic Hepatitis can also occur after short period of drinking 100 g alcohol daily.
• Heavy drinking is considered as drinking ≥15 drinks/week in men and ≥8 drinks/week in women.
• Binge drinking is defined as consumption of ≥5 drinks in men and ≥ four drinks in women in 2 hours.
• Consumption of > 3 drinks (approximately 40 g) per day in women and 4 drinks (approximately 60 g) per day in men is considered as threshold for Alcoholic hepatitis

Diagnosis is made based liver tests and abdominal ultrasound.

Call your health care provider if:

• You develop symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis
• You develop symptoms after prolonged or heavy drinking
• You are concerned that drinking may be damaging your health

All patients with Alcoholic hepatitis must stop taking alcohol. Additionally, nutritional supplements including [folic acid]], thiamine, vitamin B6, vitamin A and zinc can be provided. Glucocorticoids is the most common pharmacologic treatment in alcoholic hepatitis.

Directions to Hospitals Treating Alcoholic hepatitis

The primary prevention of Alcoholic Hepatitis is alcohol abstinence.Alcohol abstinence improves histological features of hepatic injury and reduces portal hypertension and the risk of cirrhosis. Additionally, combination psychotherapy with cognitive behavioral therapy, peer driven support counseling, motivational enhancement therapy, and comprehensive medical care can be considered to reduce recidivism.

Alcohol abstinence improves your prognosis. However, The outcome will likely be poor if you keep drinking.

Complications of alcoholic hepatitis include:

• Variceal veins and subsequent hemorrhage
• Lethargy and confusion are suggestive ofHepatic encephalopathy
• Ascites
• Cirrhosis

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