Alcoholic hepatitis
In gastroenterology, alcoholic hepatitis is "inflammation of the liver due to alcohol abuse. It is characterized by necrosis of hepatocytes, infiltration by neutrophils, and deposit of mallory hyaline bodies. depending on its severity, the inflammatory lesion may be reversible or progress to liver cirrhosis."[1]A practice guideline is available from the American College of Gastroenterology.[2]
Treatment
Corticosteroids may help in severe cases.[3]
The role of pentoxifylline is uncertain.[4]
"Although combination therapy with prednisolone plus N-acetylcysteine increased 1-month survival among patients with severe acute alcoholic hepatitis, 6-month survival, the primary outcome, was not improved" according to a randomized controlled trial. [5] In this trial, the relative risk ratio of N-acetylcysteine for mortality at one month was 0.3 and the relative risk reduction was 66.7%. In populations similar to those in this study which had a rate of risk as measured by the mortality at one month of 24% without treatment, the number needed to treat is 6. [5]
References
- ↑ Anonymous (2024), Alcoholic hepatitis (English). Medical Subject Headings. U.S. National Library of Medicine.
- ↑ "Alcoholic Liver Disease: Proposed Recommendations", Am J Gastroenterol 105: 14–32, 10 November 2009, DOI:10.1038/ajg.2009.593
- ↑ Rambaldi A, Saconato HH, Christensen E, Thorlund K, Wetterslev J, Gluud C (2008), "Systematic review: glucocorticosteroids for alcoholic hepatitis--a Cochrane Hepato-Biliary Group systematic review with meta-analyses and trial sequential analyses of randomized clinical trials.", Aliment Pharmacol Ther 27 (12): 1167-78, DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2036.2008.03685.x
- ↑ Whitfield K, Rambaldi A, Wetterslev J, Gluud C (2009). "Pentoxifylline for alcoholic hepatitis.". Cochrane Database Syst Rev (4): CD007339. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD007339.pub2. PMID 19821406. Research Blogging.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Nguyen-Khac E, Thevenot T, Piquet MA, Benferhat S, Goria O, Chatelain D et al. (2011). "Glucocorticoids plus N-acetylcysteine in severe alcoholic hepatitis.". N Engl J Med 365 (19): 1781-9. DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1101214. PMID 22070475. Research Blogging.