Editorial
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Nov 21, 2006; 12(43): 6909-6921
Published online Nov 21, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i43.6909
Current concepts and controversies in the treatment of alcoholic hepatitis
Catherine Rongey, Neil Kaplowitz
Catherine Rongey, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of California at Los Angeles, 911 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States
Neil Kaplowitz, Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Southern California, 2011 Zonal Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90033, United States
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Correspondence to: Catherine Rongey, MD, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, University of California at Los Angeles, 911 Broxton Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024, United States. crongey@mednet.ucla.edu
Telephone: +1-310-7948309 Fax: +1-310-7943288
Received: October 14, 2005
Revised: November 12, 2006
Accepted: November 18, 2006
Published online: November 21, 2006
Abstract

The treatment of alcoholic hepatitis remains one of the most debated topics in medicine and a field of continued research. In this review, we discuss the evolution of scoring systems, including the recent development of the Glasgow alcoholic hepatitis score, role of liver biopsy and current treatment interventions. Studies of treatment interventions with glucocorticoids, pentoxifylline, infliximab, s-adenosyl-methionine, and colchicine are reviewed with discussion on quality. Glucocorticoids currently remain the mainstay of treatment for severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Keywords: Alcoholic hepatitis; Treatment; Gluco-corticoid; Biopsy; Scoring system