Clinical profile of cases of alcoholic liver disease

Abstract

Background: Alcohol is most common substance abused. Alcoholic liver disease is a major health care problem in India. Alcohol consumption is directly associated with liver disease mortality and accounts for increased social and economic costs. Alcoholic liver disease may take the forms of acute involvement (alcoholic hepatitis) or chronic liver disease (steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis. The severity and prognosis of alcohol- induced liver disease depends on the amount, pattern and duration of alcohol consumption, as well as on the presence of liver inflammation, diet, nutritional status and genetic predisposition of an individual. While steatosis is complete benign disease, liver cirrhosis is associated with marked morbidity, mortality and life expectancy shortening. Aims & Objective: To study alcoholic liver disease, clinical presentation, to access the severity of alcoholic liver disease and its complications and their treatment response and overall outcome among patients using laboratory and radiological parameters. Material and Methods: A total of 50 patients were studied and their clinical profile, laboratory parameters and radiological investigations were taken. Results: Among 50 patients 58 % belonged to age group 40-49 years. All were male. 78 % of patients from urban areas, with 60 % belonging to middle class.60 % of patients have chief complaint of abdominal distension and melena each. Jaundice (60%) and ascites (60%) were commonest finding. All patients had raised SGPT, SGOT, S.AlPO4 and S. bilirubin suggesting liver damage. Prolonged PT and reduced S. albumin suggested reduced protein synthesis because of liver disease. Alcoholic hepatitis was in24% cases, while 40% had fatty liver and 36 % had alcoholic cirrhosis. Overall mortality rate was 20 %. , most common cause is encephalopathy (40%), coagulopathy leading to DIC (40%) and hepatorenal syndrome (20%). Conclusion: Alcoholic liver disease was seen among the productive age group with high morbidity and mortality. Mortality and morbidity associated with this disease is matter of serious economic loss to the nation and grief for the society