Asymptomatic hepatopathy is frequent in chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.
BACKGROUND
Chronic ethanol abuse is a common cause of chronic hepatic and pancreatic diseases in Western countries. The objectives of the present study were to determine the occurrence and the clinical evolution during follow-up of asymptomatic hepatic disease in Brazilian alcoholics with chronic pancreatitis whose most important beverage is cachaça, a beverage distilled from sugar cane.


METHODS
Thirty-two patients, mean age 35 years, with a mean daily ethanol intake of 204 g during a mean period of 16 years, presenting with chronic pancreatitis without clinical and laboratory features of hepatocellular failure, were followed up during 34 +/- 8 months after undergoing a percutaneous biopsy of the liver and histological examination.


RESULTS
Hepatic injury was observed in 50% of the cases. During the follow-up, only one patient showed clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatic deterioration or complication.


CONCLUSIONS
In subjects with a chronic intake of cachaça, the association between asymptomatic alcoholic hepatopathy and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis is frequent (50%). In chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, associated hepatic disease may remain asymptomatic in the majority of the cases and has little influence on the outcome of the patients, at least in a short-term follow-up.
Chebli
J M
JM
Lobo
E
E
Lanzoni
V P
VP
Das Neves
M M
MM
D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D019512:Pancreatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors