Current status of alcoholic liver diseases in Japan

Abstract

Economic prosperity in Taiwan has lead to increased ethanol consumption resulting in increasing cases of hospitalization for alcoholic liver disease. Alcoholic liver disease based on histological findings is classified into four categories: alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, alcoholic cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis superimposed on cirrhosis. Damages caused by free radicals and lipid peroxidation have lead to the ballooning change of hepatocytes and the formation of Mallory bodies. Ethanol-induced hypoxia, lipid peroxidation, and acetaldehyde activate the stellate cells and thus increase matrix production and fibrogenesis. In this review, various clinical features and treatments of alcoholic liver disease are discussed. It is recommended that patients with alcoholic hepatitis be assessed with appropriate quantitative scores for early steroids therapy to improve survival.