Liver biopsy and liver function tests in 28 consecutive long-term alcoholics.
Liver cirrhosis was not found by needle biopsy performed on 28 consecutive male alcoholics of "skid-row" type, but 14 had fatty degeneration and 14 normal histology of the liver. Hypoalbuminemia was the most consistent finding. The combined galactose tolerance test could not predict fatty degeneration. There was no correlation between the laboratory tests used to assess liver function and the degree of fatty degeneration.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005690:Galactose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D000637:Transaminases / Q000097:blood
D000637:Transaminases; D005690:Galactose