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©2014 Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jul 14, 2014; 20(26): 8393-8406
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8393
Published online Jul 14, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i26.8393
Clinical differences between alcoholic liver disease and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Nobuyuki Toshikuni, Tomiyasu Arisawa, Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
Mikihiro Tsutsumi, Department of Hepatology, Kanazawa Medical University, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan
Author contributions: Toshikuni N wrote the manuscript; Arisawa T and Tsutsumi M supervised the work.
Correspondence to: Nobuyuki Toshikuni, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kanazawa Medical University, 1-1 Daigaku, Uchinada-machi, Ishikawa 920-0293, Japan. n.toshikuni@gmail.com
Telephone: +81-76-2862211 Fax: +81-76-2860892
Received: October 28, 2013
Revised: January 29, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Revised: January 29, 2014
Accepted: March 19, 2014
Published online: July 14, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Although alcoholic liver disease (ALD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) have similar pathological spectra, from simple hepatic steatosis to steatohepatitis and liver cirrhosis, the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of these two diseases differ. Comparative analyses of the factors associated with disease susceptibility and progression and the predictors and characteristics of outcomes would be helpful in the management of these diseases. Notably, both ALD and NAFLD are frequently accompanied by extrahepatic complications, including cardiovascular disease and malignancy, which can influence patient survival.