Acute alcoholic hepatitis, end stage alcoholic liver disease and liver transplantation: An Italian position statement

• Published in: World journal of gastroenterology : WJG 2014-10, Vol.20 (40), p.14642-14651
• Main Authors: Testino, Gianni, Burra, Patrizia, Bonino, Ferruccio, Piani, Francesco, Sumberaz, Alessandro, Peressutti, Roberto, Giannelli Castiglione, Andrea, Patussi, Valentino, Fanucchi, Tiziana, Ancarani, Ornella, De Cerce, Giovanna, Iannini, Anna Teresa, Greco, Giovanni, Mosti, Antonio, Durante, Marilena, Babocci, Paola, Quartini, Mariano, Mioni, Davide, Aricò, Sarino, Baselice, Aniello, Leone, Silvia, Lozer, Fabiola, Scafato, Emanuele, Borro, Paolo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alcohol; Alcohol Abstinence; Alcoholic; Cirrhosis; Comorbidity; hepatitis; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - diagnosis; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - mortality; Hepatitis, Alcoholic - surgery; Hepatocellul; Humans; Italy - epidemiology; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - diagnosis; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - mortality; Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic - surgery; Liver Transplantation - standards; Patient Care Team - standards; Patient Selection; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Self-Help Groups - standards; Severity of Illness Index; Time Factors; Topic Highlight; Treatment Outcome; Waiting Lists
• ISSN: 1007-9327; 2219-2840
• DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i40.14642

Alcoholic liver disease encompasses a broad spectrum of diseases ranging from steatosis steatohepatitis,fibrosis,and cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma.Forty-four per cent of all deaths from cirrhosis are attributed to alcohol.Alcoholic liver disease is the second most common diagnosis among patients undergoing liver transplantation(LT).The vast majority of transplant programmes(85%)require 6 mo of abstinence prior to transplantation;commonly referred to as the"6-mo rule".Both in the case of progressive end-stage liver disease(ESLD)and in the case of severe acute alcoholic hepatitis(AAH),not responding to medical therapy,there is a lack of evidence to support a 6-mo sobriety period.It is necessary to identify other risk factors that could be associated with the resumption of alcohol drinking.The"Group of Italian Regions"suggests that:in a case of ESLD with model for end-stage liver disease<19 a 6-mo abstinence period is required;in a case of ESLD,a 3-mo sober period before LT may be more ideal than a 6-mo period,in selected patients;and in a case of severe AAH,not respond-ing to medical therapies(up to 70%of patients die within 6 mo),LT is mandatory,even without achieving abstinence.The multidisciplinary transplant team must include an addiction specialist/hepato-alcohologist.Patients have to participate in self-help groups.