Alcoholic liver disease

Question 1

What is the definition of alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 1

Inflammation, scarring and build up of fats on the liver

Question 2

What is the cause of alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 2

Excessive alcohol intake for usually at least 10 years

Question 3

What are the risk factors of alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 3

Alcohol consumption, hepatitis C, female, smoking

Question 4

What is the presentation of alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 4

Abdominal pain, hepatomegaly, haematemesis, malaena, caput medusae, splenomegaly, jaundice, palmar erythema, ascites, weight loss, malnutrition, fatigue

Question 5

What are the investigations for alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 5

LFTs (raised AST and ALT, raised or normal ALP), bilirubin (raised), albumin (low)
FBC (anaemia, leukocytosis, thrombocytopenia)
U+Es (normal or low Na, K, Mg, P)
Hepatic ultrasound

Question 6

What is the management for alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 6

Alcohol abstinence/reduction, weight loss, smoking cessation, good nutrition
Corticosteroids
Diuretics for ascites
Liver transplant

Question 7

What are the complications of alcoholic liver disease?

Answer 7

Hepatic encepahlopathy, portal hypertension, GI bleeding, coagulopathy, renal failure, sepsis