Alcoholic liver disease in the elderly.
Although per capita alcohol consumption, and thus the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease, decreases generally with age in Europe and in the United States, recently an increase in alcohol consumption has been reported in individuals over 65 years. Reasons explaining this observation may include an increase in life expectancy or a loss of life partners and, thus, loneliness and depression. Although ethanol metabolism and ethanol distribution change with age, and an elderly person's liver is more susceptible to the toxic effect of ethanol, the spectrum of alcoholic liver diseases and their symptoms and signs is similar to that seen in patients of all ages. However, prognosis of alcoholic liver disease in the elderly is poor. In addition, chronic alcohol consumption may enhance drug associated liver disease and may also act as a cofactor in other liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.
Seitz
Helmut K
HK
Department of Medicine & Center of Alcohol Research, Liver Disease and Nutrition, Salem Medical Center, University of Heidelberg, Zeppelinstrasse 11-33, D - 69121 Heidelberg, Germany. helmut_karl.seitz@urz.uni-heidelberg.de
Stickel
Felix
F
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000431:Ethanol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors
D002492:Central Nervous System Depressants; D000431:Ethanol