Study of clinical profile of alcoholic hepatitis : A Case series of 100 cases
Abstract
Alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of adverse health and social consequences. Alcoholic Hepatitis is one of the consequence of alcoholism. So an observational study was designed over the period of one year to study clinical profile and effects of Alcoholic Hepatitis. The study was carried out in 100 consecutive patients admitted to tertiary care hospital with alcoholic hepatitis. Data entry and analysis was done in Microsoft excel through Descriptive statistic and chisquare tests. It was observed that most patients with Alcoholic Hepatitis drinks more than 100 g/d with 150-200 g per day being common. In the present study 92% of patients were heavy alcoholics i.e. more than 80gm/day. This suggests that alcoholic hepatitis mostly occurs in heavy drinkers. Present study suggests that Discriminate Factor score does not associate with complications like hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. SGOT, SGPT, serum bilirubin, prothrombin time and serum albumin didn’t associate well with amount of alcohol intake. This study also observed that patient with Glasgow Alcoholic Hepatitis Score of more than 9 have more chance of complications like hepatic encephalopathy and ascites. It can be concluded from this study that most of the alcoholic hepatitis patients were young adults and middle age population, who were is active and productive mass of society. Early detection of alcoholic liver disease can decrease both morbidity and mortality due to alcoholic liver disease.
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Introduction
Alcohol consumption is associated with a wide range of adverse health and social consequences, both acute (e.g., traffic deaths, other injuries) and chronic (e.g., alcohol dependence, liver damage, stroke, cancers of the mouth and oesophagus). Research to date has suggested that alcoholism may or may not be progressive in nature. 1 Some people develop the symptoms of alcoholism after only months of heavy drinking, whereas other alcoholics may drink heavily for years before developing the disease.2
Alcohol problems, both those of individuals and those that affect society at large, continue to impose staggering social and economic burdens. In addition to negatively affecting health, a wide range of social ills including domestic violence, child abuse, fires and other accidents and other crimes against individuals such as rape, robbery and assault have all been linked to alcohol misuse. 3 An estimated 20 to 40 percent of patients in large urban hospitals are there because of this illnesses that have been caused or made worse by their drinking. 4
The threshold for developing alcoholic liver disease in men is an intake of >80gm g/d of alcohol for 10 years, while women are at increased risk for developing similar degrees of liver injury by consuming 20–40 g/dl. 5
Conclusion
Present study concludes that the most of the alcoholic hepatitis patients were young adults and middle age population, which is active and productive mass of society. High morbidity of alcoholic liver disease required frequent hospitalization adding to burden for health care system and loss of man-hours at work. Mortality and morbidity associated with this disease is matter of serious economic loss to the nation and grief for the society. So it is recommended for screening for alcohol abuse in all adult patients presenting to the hospital and providing counseling services to increase the awareness of ill effects of alcohol. Early detection of alcoholic liver disease can decrease both morbidity and mortality due to alcoholic liver disease.