Alcoholic liver disease Flashcards
Define
Chronic liver disease caused by excess of alcohol
Presentation
Fatty liver-usually no symptoms
Possible hepatomegaly on examinations- enlarged
Alcoholic hep- rapid onset jaundice
Nausea
Anorexia
Fever
May be asymptomatic with complications of cirrhosis
Most chronic liver disease in western world
Alcoholic liver disease
Cause
Excessive consumption of alcohol
Exact mechanism unknown
Beyond identifying alcohol as a hepatoxin
Some genetic deposition
Investigation
Liver bio Chem- AST ALT rise
Bloods - elevated MCV
Treatement
Lifelong abstinence of alcohol
Corticosteroids to control inflammation if no renal failure
Complications
Liver failure if untreated
Pathology
Fatty liver: biopsy finding
Hepatocytes contain macrovesicular droplets of triglycerides
Fat disappears on cessation of alcohol intake
But otherwise progresses
To cirrhosis and fibrosis
As result of mitochondrial damage
Alcoholic hep: ballooned hepatocytes
Contain eosinophilia material
Call Mallory bodies
Surrounded by neutrophils
Fibrosis and foamy degeneration of hepatocytes
Usually coexists with cirrhosis
Final stage of alcholic liver disease is:
Distraction of liver architecture and fibrosis
Regenerating nodules
Bring micro nodular cirrhosis
Mallory bodies also present