This site is intended for healthcare professionals

Go to /sign-in page

You can view 5 more pages before signing in

Go to /pro/cpd-dashboard page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. CPD dashboard

Go to /account/subscription-details page

This page is worth 0.05 CPD credits. Upgrade to Pro

Prognosis of alcoholic liver disease

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

Authoring team

The prognosis for fatty change is good provided that drinking ceases or is controlled. Continued high alcohol consumption leaves the patient at risk of development of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Many patients with acute alcoholic hepatitis deteriorate rapidly and some 20-50% die. Resolution is slow even in those who abstain. A poor prognosis is associated with an increased prothrombin time, unresponsive to intramuscular vitamin K, and a raised serum bilirubin above 20 mg.

Alcoholic cirrhotics who continue to drink have a 30% 5-year survival; among abstainers, this improves to 70%. Ascites, jaundice and variceal haemorrhage are poor prognostic signs. Women survive less well than men.

Hepatocellular carcinoma complicates 10-15% of those with cirrhosis.

At least 25% of patients with ALD continue to consume alcohol irrespective of therapy.


Create an account to add page annotations

Annotations allow you to add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation. E.g. a website or number. This information will always show when you visit this page.

The content herein is provided for informational purposes and does not replace the need to apply professional clinical judgement when diagnosing or treating any medical condition. A licensed medical practitioner should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions.

Connect

Copyright 2024 Oxbridge Solutions Limited, a subsidiary of OmniaMed Communications Limited. All rights reserved. Any distribution or duplication of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. Oxbridge Solutions receives funding from advertising but maintains editorial independence.