'''Alcoholic liver disease''' is the major cause of [[liver disease]] in Western countries, (in Asian countries, viral [[hepatitis]] is the major cause). It arises from the excessive ingestion of [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]].
'''Alcoholic liver disease''' is the major cause of [[liver disease]] in Western countries, (in Asian countries, viral [[hepatitis]] is the major cause). It arises from the excessive ingestion of [[Alcoholic beverage|alcohol]].
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==Pathophysiology==
==Pathophysiology==
[[Image:Pathogenesis alcoholic liver injury.jpg|thumb|right|Pathogenesis of alcohol induced liver injury]]
[[Image:Pathogenesis alcoholic liver injury.jpg|thumb|right|Pathogenesis of alcohol induced liver injury]]
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{{main|Alcoholic hepatitis}}
{{main|Alcoholic hepatitis}}
Some people get an acute hepatitis or inflammatory reaction to the cells affected by fatty change. This is not directly related to the dose of alcohol. Some people seem more prone to this reaction than others. This is called alcoholic steatonecrosis and the inflammation probably predisposes to liver fibrosis.
Some people get an acute hepatitis or inflammatory reaction to the cells affected by fatty change. This is not directly related to the dose of alcohol. Some people seem more prone to this reaction than others. This is called alcoholic steatonecrosis and the inflammation probably predisposes to liver fibrosis.
Alcoholic liver disease is the major cause of liver disease in Western countries, (in Asian countries, viral hepatitis is the major cause). It arises from the excessive ingestion of alcohol.
Fatty change and alcoholic hepatitis are probably reversible. The later stages of fibrosis and cirrhosis tend to be irreversible but can usually be quite well managed for long periods of time.
Fatty change, or steatosis is the accumulation of fat in liver cells which can be seen as fatty globules under the microscope. Alcoholism causes large fatty globules (macrovesicular steatosis). Small fatty globules have different causes. Other causes of macrovesicular steatosis include diabetes, obesity and starvation. Alcoholic fatty change is probably dose related.
Some people get an acute hepatitis or inflammatory reaction to the cells affected by fatty change. This is not directly related to the dose of alcohol. Some people seem more prone to this reaction than others. This is called alcoholic steatonecrosis and the inflammation probably predisposes to liver fibrosis.
Cirrhosis also has number of other causes, such as hepatitis and toxins. The late stages of cirrhosis (say from viral hepatitis or alcohol) may look similar. This phenomenon is termed a "final common pathway" for a disease.
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