Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is a disease in which an inflammatory lesion of the liver cells occurs as a result of prolonged and systematic consumption of alcoholic beverages. Since alcoholic hepatitis is a toxic disease, it is not transmitted from person to person, unlike viral hepatitis. Under the influence of alcohol intoxication, the liver develops an inflammatory process that leads to a disruption in its functioning and the death of its individual cells.

The following groups of people are most susceptible to this disease:

• women;
• persons taking drugs that are detrimental to the liver;
• patients with viral forms of hepatitis or diseases of other organs of the digestive system ( pancreatitis , gastritis, etc.);
• persons with insufficient or overweight.

Signs of alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis can not manifest itself for a long time, and sometimes they learn about the disease only as a result of laboratory tests. Its main symptoms are similar to those of other types of hepatitis. These include:

• weight loss, fatigue;
• pain and discomfort in the right hypochondrium;
• frequent nausea, vomiting, belching with bitter aftertaste, diarrhea;
• jaundice (yellowing of the skin, mucous membranes and eye sclera);
• increased body temperature;
• darkening of urine and fecal discoloration;
• increase and increase in the density of the liver.

Confirm the disease is possible on the basis of biochemical blood test and liver biopsy. Of particular importance is information about the use of alcohol by the patient, the presence of alcohol dependence.

Forms of alcoholic hepatitis

In the course of the disease, two forms are distinguished:

1. Acute alcoholic hepatitis - its development can lead to a single use of a large dose of alcohol. It is a rapidly progressive form that manifests itself clinically in one of four variants: latent, cholestatic, icteric fulminant. Especially intensively the inflammatory process develops against a background of poor nutrition and in case the patient is in a state of drinking-bout.
2. Chronic alcoholic hepatitis - occurs gradually, can develop after acute. Often, this form manifests itself after 5 to 7 years of regular alcohol abuse.

Chronic alcoholic hepatitis is divided into:

• Persistent - stable form, in which there is the possibility of reversibility of the inflammatory process;
• active (mild, moderate and severe) - is characterized by necrotic lesion of the hepatic tissue, the outcome of which can be cirrhosis of the liver.

Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis should be treated immediately, the outcome depends on it. Many patients are interested in whether alcoholic hepatitis can be cured completely. This depends on the severity of the disease, the presence of co-morbidities, and whether all the treatment recommendations have been followed by the patient. In some cases, the liver can recover completely, but even stabilizing its condition and preventing the development of cirrhosis or a tumor process are good results.

Treatment of alcoholic hepatitis is complex. It includes:

1. Full refusal from the use of alcohol. This is the first and main component of the treatment regimen. Even minimal doses of alcohol not only reduce the effect of treatment to a minimum, but can lead to serious complications right up to a lethal effect.
2. Compliance with diet. When alcoholic hepatitis is recommended, a diet with a predominance of protein foods (meat, fish, legumes, milk products, etc.) and with the exclusion of fatty, fried, smoked and spicy dishes. Eat small meals 4 to 5 times a day.
3. Reception of medicines. Hepatoprotectors (Heptral, Essliver forte, Karsil, Hofitol, etc.) are assigned to restore liver cells. In some cases, antibiotic therapy is required.
4. Vitamin therapy - is appointed to fill the vitamin deficiency, which, as a rule, is observed in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.

In the most severe cases, surgical treatment is required - liver transplantation.