title: Clinico-biochemical correlation to histological findings in alcoholic liver disease: a single centre study from eastern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Alcoholism is a health problem not only in developed countries but also in developing countries. Cirrhosis due to alcohol is a common cause of death among individuals abusing alcohol. A better knowledge of the spectrum of alcoholic liver diseases, its clinical, biochemical and histopathological features could result in early detection and prevention of alcoholic liver diseases before it's catastrophic and life threatening effects.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 200 patients with alcoholic liver diseases were studied with respect to alcohol consumption, clinical features, biochemical and histopathological changes. The clinical features, biochemical parameters, and histopathology of liver including Ishak's modified histological activity index (HAI) were correlated with the amount and duration of alcohol consumed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Majority of the patients were in the age group of 40-49 years and all the cases were males. Majority consumed alcohol of about 75-90 grams per day for a duration of 10-12 years. Anorexia and jaundice were the most common symptom and clinical finding respectively. Hyperbilirubinemia and hypoalbuminemia were the most common abnormalities observed in liver function tests. Advanced HAI stages with features of cirrhosis were most frequent histo-pathological finding noted in this study. Clinico-biochemical profile was significantly correlated with degree of alcohol ingestion as well as with liver histopathology.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The wide prevalence of alcoholic liver disease including cirrhosis among Indian males was noted with significantly lower quantity and duration of alcohol ingestion. The severity of liver damage is directly proportional to the quantity and duration of alcohol consumed. Clinical features and biochemical changes may forecast the liver histopathology among the patients of alcoholic liver disease.
authors.affiliation: Residential Medical Officer, Department of Medicine, Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Sayantan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Dibbendhu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Khanra
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sonthalia
authors.affiliation: Resident, Department of Cardiology, Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Supratip
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundu
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER) and SSKM Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biswas
authors.affiliation: Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Arunansu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talukdar
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine, Medical College and Hospital , Kolkata, India .
authors.forename: Manjari
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saha
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, Bankura Sammilani Medical College & Hospital , Bankura, India .
authors.forename: Himel
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bera
keywords: Alcoholic liver diseases; Amount; Duration; Histopathology; Liver function tests