Alcoholic liver disease is a term that encompasses the liver manifestations

of alcohol overconsumption, including fatty liver,alcoholic hepatitis, and

chronic hepatitis with liver fibrosis or cirrhosis.[1]
It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries. Although steatosis (fatty liver)
will develop in any individual who consumes a large quantity of alcoholic beverages over
a long period of time, this process is transient and reversible. [1] Of all chronic heavy
drinkers, only 1520% develop hepatitis or cirrhosis, which can occur concomitantly or in
succession.[2]
How alcohol damages the liver is not completely understood. 80% of alcohol passes
through the liver to be detoxified. Chronic consumption of alcohol results in the secretion
of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, Interleukin 6 [IL6] and Interleukin
8 [IL8]),oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and acetaldehyde toxicity. These factors
cause inflammation, apoptosis and eventually fibrosis of liver cells. Why this occurs in
only a few individuals is still unclear. Additionally, the liver has tremendous capacity to
regenerate and even when 75% of hepatocytes are dead, it continues to function as
normal.[3]
1.

O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (January 2010). "Alcoholic liver disease:

AASLD Practice Guidelines" (PDF). Hepatology 51 (1): 307
28.doi:10.1002/hep.23258. PMID 20034030.

2. ^ a b c d e f g h Menon KV, Gores GJ, Shah VH (October 2001). "Pathogenesis, diagnosis,

and treatment of alcoholic liver disease" (PDF). Mayo Clin. Proc. 76 (10): 1021
9.doi:10.4065/76.10.1021. PMID 11605686.
3. ^ Longstreth, George F.; Zieve, David (eds.) (18 October 2009). "Alcoholic Liver
Disease". MedLinePlus: Trusted Health Information for You. Bethesda, MD: US National
Library of Medicine & National Institutes of Health. Archived from the original on 22
January 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2010

Hepatitis (plural: hepatitides) is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of

the liver and characterized by the presence ofinflammatory cells in the tissue of the
organ. Hepatitis may occur with limited or no symptoms, but often leads to jaundice (a
yellow discoloration of the skin, mucous membrane, and conjunctiva), poor appetite,
and malaise. Hepatitis is acute when it lasts less than six months and chronic when it
persists longer.
Acute hepatitis can be self-limiting (healing on its own), can progress to chronic hepatitis,
or, rarely, can cause acute liver failure.[1]Chronic hepatitis may have no symptoms, or may
progress over time to fibrosis (scarring of the liver) and cirrhosis (chronic liver failure).

[2]

Cirrhosis of the liver increases the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma (a form

of liver cancer).[3]
Worldwide, viral hepatitis is the most common cause of liver inflammation.[4] Other causes
include autoimmune diseases and ingestion of toxic substances (notably alcohol),
certain medications (such as paracetamol), some industrial organic solvents, and plants
1.

Bernal, W. and J. Wendon (2013). "Acute Liver Failure." New England Journal of
Medicine 369(26): 2525-2534.

2. ^ Dienstag JL. Chapter 306. Chronic Hepatitis. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL,
Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J. eds. 'Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine,
18e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill;
2012.http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?
bookid=331&Sectionid=40727101. Accessed May 09, 2015.
3. ^ Carr BI. Chapter 92. Tumors of the Liver and Biliary Tree. In: Longo DL, Fauci AS,
Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J. eds. 'Harrison's Principles of Internal
Medicine, 18e. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill;
2012.http://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?
bookid=331&Sectionid=40726828. Accessed May 09, 2015.
4. ^ WHO Health Topics: Hepatitis [1]
5. ^ "Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. Retrieved 2012-08-26.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver, most commonly caused by a viral infection. There are
five main hepatitis viruses, referred to as types A, B, C, D and E. These five types are of
greatest concern because of the burden of illness and death they cause and the potential for
outbreaks and epidemic spread. In particular, types B and C lead to chronic disease in
hundreds of millions of people and, together, are the most common cause of liver cirrhosis
and cancer.
Hepatitis A and E are typically caused by ingestion of contaminated food or water. Hepatitis B,
C and D usually occur as a result of parenteral contact with infected body fluids. Common
modes of transmission for these viruses include receipt of contaminated blood or blood
products, invasive medical procedures using contaminated equipment and for hepatitis B
transmission from mother to baby at birth, from family member to child, and also by sexual
contact.
Acute infection may occur with limited or no symptoms, or may include symptoms such as
jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes), dark urine, extreme fatigue, nausea, vomiting and
abdominal pain

WHO Health topics Hepatitis 31 may 2015