title: Long-Term Management of Alcoholic Liver Disease.
abstract: The key to management of alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is early recognition by the patient and physician. Excessive alcohol consumption, ranging from drinking more than recommended amounts to abuse, is one of the most preventable causes of death and disability. The US Preventive Services Task Force guidelines recommend screening for alcoholism in the primary care setting. Abstinence is the cornerstone of therapy and it decreases mortality and morbidity significantly. Alcoholic cirrhosis can cause varices that need to be followed closely with upper endoscopy to prevent or treat hemorrhage. In this review, we describe an approach to long-term management of ALD.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Nutrition, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA. Electronic address: sanathallampati@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sanath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Allampati
authors.affiliation: MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA.
authors.forename: Kevin D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mullen
mesh_terms: D064829:Alcohol Abstinence; D000427:Alcohol Deterrents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D000465:Algorithms; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000175:diagnosis; D004932:Esophageal and Gastric Varices / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000427:Alcohol Deterrents
keywords: Abstinence; Alcoholic liver disease; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Recidivism; Varices