Alcohol-associated liver disease: A review on its pathophysiology, diagnosis and drug therapy

Abstract

Highlights Chronic intake of alcohol initiates a pathogenic process that involves the production of protein-aldehyde adducts, and release of cytokines. Involved gene polymorphisms may include alcohol dehydrogenase, cytochrome P4502E1, and those associated with alcoholism. Alcohol ingestion could be correlated to the risk of preterm births, there is no exact dose-response relationship. Oral drugs of pentoxifylline have reduced the severity of steatohepatitis in alcohol-use patients.

Cinnabarinic Acid-Induced Stanniocalcin 2 Confers Cytoprotection against Alcohol-Induced Liver Injury

“…Excessive alcohol use is a global crisis contributing to around 3 million deaths annually (Iranpour and Nakhaee, 2019). Alcoholic liver disease is one of the most significant clinical manifestation of alcohol abuse that encompasses steatosis (fatty liver), alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and fibrosis) and cirrhosis (sclerosis) (Subramaniyan et al, 2021). Almost 90% of all heavy drinkers develop fatty livers, 15 to 20% of patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease will develop alcoholic hepatitis, and about 20 to 50% of this population will ultimately progress to cirrhosis (Mann et al, 2003;Osna et al, 2017;Zhu et al, 2017;Crabb et al, 2020).…”

“…Almost 90% of all heavy drinkers develop fatty livers, 15 to 20% of patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease will develop alcoholic hepatitis, and about 20 to 50% of this population will ultimately progress to cirrhosis (Mann et al, 2003;Osna et al, 2017;Zhu et al, 2017;Crabb et al, 2020). The major pathological causes of alcoholic liver diseases are oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stressinduced apoptosis, necrosis, inflammation, metabolic changes, and aldehyde toxicity (Nanji, 1998;Casey et al, 2001;Ishii et al, 2003;Subramaniyan et al, 2021). In healthy livers, primary hepatocyte apoptosis is a rare event, but the alcoholic liver disease is associated with significant hepatocyte death (Benedetti et al, 1988;Goldin et al, 1993;Krammer, 1996;Sodeman et al, 2000;Ribeiro et al, 2004;Park et al, 2005;Madesh et al, 2009).…”

Current Medical Treatment for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease

“…The phosphodiesterase inhibitor, pentoxifylline (PTX) has been evaluated in patients with AH for its ability to inhibit the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) 171 . High levels of TNF induce the production of reactive oxygen species by the hepatocyte mitochondria, leading to cell death 172 .…”

Alcohol and health. Does regular drinking of small dose of alcohol really good for your health?

“…Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is an extremely important issue from a clinical point of view. Consumption of alcohol in pregnancy is highly teratogenic for the fetus and may cause congenital abdominal defects, microencephalopathy, congenital heart defects, mental retardation, and restriction of intrauterine growth [ 47 ]. The study by Wojtyła and Wojtyła analyzed the prevalence of alcohol consumption by pregnant women in Poland.…”