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World J Gastroenterol. Jul 7, 2014; 20(25): 8040-8047
Published online Jul 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8040
Published online Jul 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i25.8040
Focus on alcoholic liver disease: From nosography to treatment
Letiția Adela Maria Streba, Cristin Constantin Vere, Internal Medicine-Medical Semiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200639 Craiova, Romania
Cristin Constantin Vere, Costin Teodor Streba, Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200639 Craiova, Romania
Marius Eugen Ciurea, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 200639 Craiova, Romania
Author contributions: Streba LAM and Vere CC contributed equally to this manuscript and share first authorship; Streba LAM, Vere CC, Streba CT and Ciurea ME wrote this paper; Streba CT and Vere CC critically revised the text; Ciurea ME supervised the literature research and critically revised the text.
Correspondence to: Costin Teodor Streba, MD, PhD, MSc, Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology of Craiova, University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova, 1 Mai 66, 200639 Craiova, Romania. costinstreba@gmail.com
Telephone: +40-722-389906 Fax: +40-351-401376
Received: October 29, 2013
Revised: January 6, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: July 7, 2014
Revised: January 6, 2014
Accepted: February 16, 2014
Published online: July 7, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) generically defines liver abnormalities ranging from liver steatosis to the end-stages of disease such as liver cirrhosis. The burden exerted on medical systems worldwide is significant, with hospitalization and management costs rising constantly over the years. In this article, we aimed to briefly review epidemiologic data on the burden of ALD, risk factors, clinical and nosographic as well as therapeutic aspects of this disease. Without attempting to be exhaustive, this short topic highlight emphasizes each point and may serve as a general guidance tool in the complicated literature related to ALD. For each point, the areas of uncertainty were emphasized.