title: Infection and Alcoholic Liver Disease.
abstract: Acute and chronic alcohol use leads to an impaired immune response and dysregulated inflammatory state that contributes to a markedly increased risk of infection. Via shared mechanisms of immune-mediated injury, alcohol can alter the clinical course of viral infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and human immunodeficiency virus. These effects are most evident in patients with alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. This article provides an overview of alcohol's effect on the immune system and contribution to the risks and outcomes of specific infectious diseases.
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, 676 North St. Clair Street, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: jlevitsk@nm.org.
authors.forename: Josh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Levitsky
mesh_terms: D056704:Adaptive Immunity / Q000187:drug effects; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology; D004064:Digestive System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D000431:Ethanol / Q000633:toxicity; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D007113:Immunity, Innate / Q000187:drug effects; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology*; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D010539:Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D010587:Phagocytosis / Q000187:drug effects; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol
keywords: Alcoholic hepatitis; Cellular immunity; Cirrhosis; Infectious disease