ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE

Course overview

THE FIRST STAGE OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE IS HEPATIC STEATOSIS, WHICH INVOLVES THE ACCUMULATION OF SMALL FAT DROPLETS UNDER LIVER CELLS APPROACHING THE PORTAL TRACTS. MORE ADVANCED DISEASE IS CHARACTERIZED BY MARKED STEATOSIS, HEPATOCELLULAR NECROSIS, AND ACUTE INFLAMMATION, KNOWN AS ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS. THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE EFFECTIVE TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE AS THE SEVERE FORM OF THE DISEASE IS LIFE-THREATENING. THIS ACTIVITY REVIEWS THE EVALUATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ALCOHOLIC LIVER DISEASE AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE RECOGNITION AND MANAGEMENT OF THIS CONDITION.