Alcoholic hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is a condition characterized by inflammation and damage to the liver due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

Pronunciation

Alcoholic hepatitis is pronounced as al-ko-hol-ik he-pa-ti-tis.

Etymology

The term "Alcoholic hepatitis" is derived from the Greek words "Alkohol" meaning alcohol, and "hepatitis" meaning inflammation of the liver.

Definition

Alcoholic hepatitis is a syndrome of progressive inflammatory liver injury associated with long-term heavy intake of ethanol. The pathogenesis is not completely understood, but it involves the metabolism of ethanol that results in liver cell damage, inflammation, and fibrosis.

Symptoms

The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis include jaundice, ascites, fever, and hepatic encephalopathy.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis is based on history of significant alcohol intake, clinical evidence of liver disease, and supportive laboratory findings. Other conditions that can cause similar symptoms need to be excluded.

Treatment

Treatment involves cessation of alcohol intake, nutritional support, and specific medical therapies such as corticosteroids or pentoxifylline.

Prognosis

The prognosis of alcoholic hepatitis depends on the severity of liver damage, the presence of other health conditions, and whether the person is able to abstain from alcohol.

Related Terms

• Cirrhosis
• Alcoholism
• Hepatitis
• Liver disease
• Liver failure
• Alcohol withdrawal syndrome

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Alcoholic hepatitis
• Wikipedia's article - Alcoholic hepatitis

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