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It is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries, and is the leading cause of death from excessive drinking. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] Although steatosis ( fatty liver disease ) will develop in any individual who consumes a large quantity of alcoholic beverages over a long period of time, this process is transient and reversible. [ 1 ]
Alcoholic liver disease is a major public health problem. For example, in the United States up to two million people have alcohol-related liver disorders. [151] Chronic heavy alcohol consumption can cause fatty liver, cirrhosis, and alcoholic hepatitis. Treatment options are limited and consist of most importantly discontinuing alcohol consumption.
Patients with liver cirrhosis develop liver cancer at a rate of 1.5% per year. [11] In total, 70% of those with alcoholic hepatitis will go on to develop alcoholic liver cirrhosis in their lifetimes. [10] Infection risk is elevated in patients with alcoholic hepatitis (12–26%).
The cause of cirrhosis can vary; alcohol and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease are main causes in western and industrialized countries, whereas viral hepatitis is the predominant cause in low and middle-income countries. [156] Cirrhosis is more common in men than in women. [158]
Liver failure is the inability of the liver to perform its normal synthetic and metabolic functions as part of normal physiology. Two forms are recognised, acute and chronic (cirrhosis). [ 1 ] Recently, a third form of liver failure known as acute-on-chronic liver failure ( ACLF ) is increasingly being recognized.
Various genetic and environmental factors exist that can lead to an increased risk for developing alcohol intolerance. Individuals with two copies of the ALDH2*2 allele are known to have high blood acetaldehyde levels and experience “hangover” symptoms such as heart palpitations for longer durations, even with low alcohol consumption.
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