User:Mr. Ibrahem/Alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a term that encompasses liver problems due to alcohol. Ranked in severity it includes fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis. Symptoms may include vomiting, abdominal pain, or yellowish skin. Complications may include variceal bleeding, spontaneous bacterial peritonitis, hepatic encephalopathy, and hepatocellular cancer.

It occurs as a result of higher levels of alcohol use (more than 21 drinks per week in men and 14 drinks per week in women). Risk factors include greater intake and longer duration of use. Other factors include obesity and hepatitis C. The degree of liver problems can be assessed with medical imaging, blood tests, and liver biopsy. AST is generally increased more than the ALT.

Treatment is by stopping the drinking of alcohol. Dietary support and the avoidance of higher doses of paracetamol (acetaminophen) is recommended. In some cases steroids may be used. In severe disease a liver transplant may be recommended. Fatty liver may resolve.

More than 90% heavy drinkers develop fatty liver, about 25% alcoholic hepatitis, and 15% cirrhosis. ALD is the most common form of long-term liver disease globally. Europeans are most commonly affected. Out of the 1.3 million deaths due to chronic liver disease in 2016, an estimated 27% were due to alcohol. An additional 245,000 deaths occurred as a result of liver cancer due to alcohol.