Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis: Therapy

Abstract

Alcoholic hepatitis (AH) causes great morbidity and mortality in the United States and throughout the world. Advances in therapy have proven difficult. In part, this reflects challenges in diagnosis, including the distinction between AH and acute-on-chronic liver failure. Liver biopsy is the best method to clarify the cause in circumstances whereby conflicting clinical data confound the diagnosis. All treatment of AH begins with abstinence from alcohol. All patients with AH should be given sufficient nutrition. Prednisolone has become the principal agent for treating patients with severe AH.

Keywords: Anti-TNFα; Antioxidants; Corticosteroids; Liver transplantation; Nutrition; Palliative care; Pentoxifylline; Prednisolone.