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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 28, 2014; 20(36): 12934-12944
Published online Sep 28, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.12934
Alcoholic liver disease: Treatment
Ki Tae Suk, Moon Young Kim, Soon Koo Baik
Ki Tae Suk, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Chuncheon 200-704, South Korea
Moon Young Kim, Soon Koo Baik, Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University, Wonju 220-701, South Korea
Author contributions: Suk KT and Kim MY contributed to the acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation of the data, and drafted the manuscript, they equally contributed; Baik SK designed and critically revised the article for important intellectual content and finally approved the version to be published.
Supported by Grant from the Korea Healthcare Technology R and D Project, Ministry of Health and Welfare, South Korea, No. A100054
Correspondence to: Soon Koo Baik, MD, PhD, Chief Doctor, Professor, Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Yonsei University, 162, Wonju 220-701, South Korea. baiksk@yonsei.ac.kr
Telephone: +82-33-7411229 Fax: +82-33-7411228
Received: October 16, 2013
Revised: March 30, 2014
Accepted: May 28, 2014
Published online: September 28, 2014
Abstract

The excess consumption of alcohol is associated with alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). ALD is a major healthcare problem, personal and social burden, and significant reason for economic loss worldwide. The ALD spectrum includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of ALD is based on a combination of clinical features, including a history of significant alcohol intake, evidence of liver disease, and laboratory findings. Abstinence is the most important treatment for ALD and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines. In addition, new therapeutic targets are being under investigation.

Keywords: Liver disease, Alcoholic, Treatment

Core tip: Abstinence is the most important treatment for alcoholic liver diseases and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines.