Inflammation of the liver associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
It usually occurs in patients between the ages of 40 and 60. Women are more susceptible, although it is more common in men because they are twice as likely as women to abuse alcohol. Other risk factors have been described: obesity, malnutrition, hepatitis C virus and genetic factors.
The presentation varies from asymptomatic to severe liver failure. The most common symptoms are loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, muscle weakness, yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes, abdominal distension and pain, and coke-coloured urine. It can also be accompanied by fever, behavioural problems, drowsiness, swelling of the legs, tingling, weakness, weight loss, etc.
We can suspect its presence if the described symptoms occur together with a compatible physical examination. It is confirmed when laboratory tests and liver ultrasound show changes, but a definitive diagnosis is made by liver biopsy.
Mild and asymptomatic forms usually do well if alcohol intake is stopped and nutritional deficiencies are corrected. Severe forms require hospitalisation and have a very high mortality rate, which can exceed 50% at three months. There is no effective treatment.
Liver transplantation is an option, but only after a period of abstinence.
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