Acute alcoholic hepatitis: Difference between revisions

 
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==Background==
==Background==
Acute alcoholic hepatitis is inflammatory liver disease secondary to alcohol use.   
Acute alcoholic hepatitis is inflammatory liver disease secondary to alcohol use.   
*spectrum from hepatic steatosis to alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis
*Spectrum from hepatic steatosis to alcoholic hepatitis to [[cirrhosis]]
*history of (usually chronic) alcohol abuse (~80 grams of ethanol daily for 5 years (2))
*History of (usually chronic) [[alcohol Abuse|alcohol abuse]] (~80 grams of ethanol daily for 5 years)
*ranges from subclinical cases to severe multisystem dysfunction
*Ranges from subclinical cases to severe multisystem dysfunction


==Clinical Features==
==Clinical Features==
===Symptoms:===
[[File:Jaundice08.jpg|thumb|Jaundice of the skin]]
*abdominal pain
[[File:SpiderAngioma.jpg|thumb|Spider angioma]]
*N/V
[[File:Hepaticfailure.jpg|thumb|[[Ascites]] secondary to cirrhosis.]]
*weight loss / fatigue / anorexia
===Symptoms===
*[[Abdominal pain]]
*[[Nausea and vomiting]]
*Weight loss / fatigue / anorexia


===Signs:===
===Signs===
*RUQ tenderness
*[[RUQ tenderness]]
*jaundice
*[[Jaundice]]
*fever
*[[Fever]]
*hepatomegaly
*[[Hepatomegaly]]
*ascites
*[[Ascites]]
*encephalopathy
*[[Encephalopathy]]
*spider angioma
*Spider angioma
*GI bleed/varices
*[[GI bleed]]/varices
*malnutrition
*[[Malnutrition]]
*symptoms of alcohol withdrawal
*Symptoms of [[alcohol withdrawal]]


Cirrhosis is found in 50-60% of cases of alcoholic hepatitis (2).
[[Cirrhosis]] is found in 50-60% of cases of alcoholic hepatitis<ref>Basra, Gurjot,et. al.  "Symptoms and Signs of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis." World J Hepatol. 2011 May 27; 3(5): 118–120.</ref>


==Differential Diagnosis==
==Differential Diagnosis==
*viral hepatitis
*Alcoholic [[pancreatitis]]
*acetaminophen toxicity
*[[Gallstones]]
*alcoholic pancreatitis
*[[Budd-Chiari syndrome]]
*gallstones
*[[Viral hepatitis]]
*Budd-Chiari syndrome
*Drug-induced hepatitis
{{Acute hepatitis causes}}
 
==Evaluation==
[[File:Auscities.png|thumb|Ascites appearance on ultrasound]]
[[File:CirrhosisWithAscitesMark.png|thumb|Liver cirrhosis with ascites on CT]]
===Work Up===
====Labs====
*CBC
**[[Leukocytosis]] with elevated ANC
*Chemistry including magnesium and phosphate
*[[LFTs]]
**Very high elevations possibly more suggestive of viral or drug-induced hepatitis
**Elevated AST/ALT (characteristically >2:1 and < 500 IU/L)
**GGT alone is less reliable (low sensitivity and specificity)<ref>O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258</ref>
*Coagulation factors
**Elevated PT/INR
*Lipase if suspect [[pancreatitis]]
*Consider [[viral hepatitis]] panel
 
====Imaging====
*Consider [[ultrasound: Abdomen|transabdominal ultrasound]] if concern for:
**[[biliary disease|Biliary obstruction]]
**[[Budd-Chiari syndrome]]
**Hepatic or biliary neoplasms
 
===Evaluation===
*Diagnosis is difficult and relies on a good history<ref>O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258</ref>
**History of significant alcohol intake
**Clinical evidence of liver disease
**Supporting laboratory abnormalities
***May be nondiagnostic in patients with mild disease or early cirrhosis
*May also have electrolyte abnormalities from malnutrition or [[alcoholic ketoacidosis]]


==Diagnosis==
Diagnosis is difficult and relies on a good history (1).  Laboratory analysis may find an AST/ALT ratio of >1.5, elevated GGT, elevated WBC (1).
==Management==
==Management==
Abstinence from alcohol, nutritional supplementation (thiamine, folate
*Control of withdrawal symptoms
*Nutritional support for malnutrition: especially [[thiamine]], [[folate]], [[pyridoxine]], [[magnesium]], [[hypophosphatemia|phosphate]], [[dextrose|glucose]], and protein
 
===Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis===
*Defined as '''Maddrey's DF score ≥32'''<ref name=Singal2018>Singal AK, et. al. ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease. Am J Gastro. 2018; 113: 175-194.</ref>
**Confers mortality of 20-50% in 30 days
*1st line therapy: '''[[Prednisolone]] 40mg PO qDay x4wks'''<ref name=Singal2018 />
**Must assess response to treatment at 7 days with Lille score
***If '''Lille score >0.45''', considered as non-responder and prednisolone should be discontinued<ref name=Singal2018 />
*[[Pentoxifylline]] - evidence does not support its use<ref>Mathurin P, Louvet A, Duhamel A, et al. Prednisolone with vs without pentoxifylline and survival of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;310(10):1033-41.</ref>
*Discontinue nonselective beta blockers (e.g., propranolol) to lower incidence of AKI<ref> Sersté T, Njimi H, Degré D, Deltenre P, Schreiber J, Lepida A, Trépo E, Gustot T, Moreno C. The use of beta-blockers is associated with the occurrence of acute kidney injury in severe alcoholic hepatitis. Liver Int. 2015 Aug;35(8):1974-82. doi: 10.1111/liv.12786. Epub 2015 Feb 4. PMID: 25611961.</ref>
 
==Disposition==
==Disposition==
===Discharge===
*Mild disease/low risk
*Nutritional assessment and intervention
*Discuss [[alcohol]] use and recommend strict abstinence
===Admit===
*High risk defined as MDF ≥ 32, MELD ≥ 18, or presence of [[hepatic encephalopathy]]
*Admission should be considered for the above as well as any of the following complications:
**Evidence of active infection
**Renal failure
**Severe coagulopathy and/or liver failure
**Alcohol withdrawal/delirium tremens
==Prognosis==
*Maddrey Discriminant Function score ([http://www.mdcalc.com/maddreys-discriminant-function-for-alcoholic-hepatitis/ MDF])
*Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score ([http://www.mdcalc.com/meld-score-model-for-end-stage-liver-disease-12-and-older/ MELD])
*High risk: MDF ≥ 32, MELD ≥ 18, or presence of [[hepatic encephalopathy]]<ref>O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258</ref>


==See Also==
==See Also==
*[[Acute hepatitis]]
*[[Alcohol]]


==External Links==
==External Links==
*http://www.aasld.org/sites/default/files/guideline_documents/AlcoholicLiverDisease1-2010.pdf


==References==
==References==
#  Amini, Maziyar; Runyon, Bruce. "Alcoholic Hepatitis 2010: A clinician's Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy."  World of Gatstroenterol 2010 October 21; 16(39):4905-4912
#  Basra, Gurjot,et. al.  "Symptoms and Signs of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis." World J Hepatol. 2011 May 27; 3(5): 118–120.
<references/>
<references/>
[[Category:GI]]

Latest revision as of 23:36, 7 February 2024

Background

Acute alcoholic hepatitis is inflammatory liver disease secondary to alcohol use.

  • Spectrum from hepatic steatosis to alcoholic hepatitis to cirrhosis
  • History of (usually chronic) alcohol abuse (~80 grams of ethanol daily for 5 years)
  • Ranges from subclinical cases to severe multisystem dysfunction

Clinical Features

Jaundice of the skin
Spider angioma
Ascites secondary to cirrhosis.

Symptoms

Signs

Cirrhosis is found in 50-60% of cases of alcoholic hepatitis[1]

Differential Diagnosis

Causes of acute hepatitis

Evaluation

Ascites appearance on ultrasound
Liver cirrhosis with ascites on CT

Work Up

Labs

  • CBC
  • Chemistry including magnesium and phosphate
  • LFTs
    • Very high elevations possibly more suggestive of viral or drug-induced hepatitis
    • Elevated AST/ALT (characteristically >2:1 and < 500 IU/L)
    • GGT alone is less reliable (low sensitivity and specificity)[3]
  • Coagulation factors
    • Elevated PT/INR
  • Lipase if suspect pancreatitis
  • Consider viral hepatitis panel

Imaging

Evaluation

  • Diagnosis is difficult and relies on a good history[4]
    • History of significant alcohol intake
    • Clinical evidence of liver disease
    • Supporting laboratory abnormalities
      • May be nondiagnostic in patients with mild disease or early cirrhosis
  • May also have electrolyte abnormalities from malnutrition or alcoholic ketoacidosis

Management

Severe Alcoholic Hepatitis

  • Defined as Maddrey's DF score ≥32[5]
    • Confers mortality of 20-50% in 30 days
  • 1st line therapy: Prednisolone 40mg PO qDay x4wks[5]
    • Must assess response to treatment at 7 days with Lille score
      • If Lille score >0.45, considered as non-responder and prednisolone should be discontinued[5]
  • Pentoxifylline - evidence does not support its use[6]
  • Discontinue nonselective beta blockers (e.g., propranolol) to lower incidence of AKI[7]

Disposition

Discharge

  • Mild disease/low risk
  • Nutritional assessment and intervention
  • Discuss alcohol use and recommend strict abstinence

Admit

  • High risk defined as MDF ≥ 32, MELD ≥ 18, or presence of hepatic encephalopathy
  • Admission should be considered for the above as well as any of the following complications:
    • Evidence of active infection
    • Renal failure
    • Severe coagulopathy and/or liver failure
    • Alcohol withdrawal/delirium tremens

Prognosis

  • Maddrey Discriminant Function score (MDF)
  • Model for End-Stage Liver Disease score (MELD)
  • High risk: MDF ≥ 32, MELD ≥ 18, or presence of hepatic encephalopathy[8]

See Also

External Links

References

  1. Basra, Gurjot,et. al. "Symptoms and Signs of Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis." World J Hepatol. 2011 May 27; 3(5): 118–120.
  2. Ostapowicz G, Fontana RJ, Schiodt FV, et al. Results of a prospective study of acute liver failure at 17 tertiary care centers in the United States. Ann Intern Med. 2002 Dec 17; 137(12): 947-54.
  3. O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258
  4. O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Singal AK, et. al. ACG clinical guideline: alcoholic liver disease. Am J Gastro. 2018; 113: 175-194.
  6. Mathurin P, Louvet A, Duhamel A, et al. Prednisolone with vs without pentoxifylline and survival of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis: a randomized clinical trial. JAMA. 2013;310(10):1033-41.
  7. Sersté T, Njimi H, Degré D, Deltenre P, Schreiber J, Lepida A, Trépo E, Gustot T, Moreno C. The use of beta-blockers is associated with the occurrence of acute kidney injury in severe alcoholic hepatitis. Liver Int. 2015 Aug;35(8):1974-82. doi: 10.1111/liv.12786. Epub 2015 Feb 4. PMID: 25611961.
  8. O'Shea RS, Dasarathy S, McCullough AJ (2010) Alcoholic liver disease. Hepatology 51: 307–328. doi: 10.1002/hep.23258