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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 7, 2014; 20(9): 2143-2158
Published online Mar 7, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i9.2143
Therapy for alcoholic liver disease
Maryconi M Jaurigue, Mitchell S Cappell
Maryconi M Jaurigue, Mitchell S Cappell, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States
Mitchell S Cappell, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States
Author contributions: Jaurigue MM performed the review of the literature and wrote about half of the manuscript; Cappell MS composed the manuscript outline, wrote about half of the manuscript, and edited the manuscript. Both authors make equal contributions to this manuscript.
Correspondence to: Mitchell S Cappell, MD, PhD, Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, William Beaumont Hospital, MOB 602, 3535 West Thirteen Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073, United States. mscappell@yahoo.com
Telephone: +1-248-5511227 Fax: +1-248-5517581
Received: November 22, 2013
Revised: January 7, 2014
Accepted: January 20, 2014
Published online: March 7, 2014
Processing time: 104 Days and 6.7 Hours
Core Tip

Core tip: Alcoholism results in about 2.5 million deaths annually worldwide, representing 4% of all mortality. Most of this mortality is from alcoholic liver disease (ALD). ALD includes alcoholic steatosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis, in order of increasing severity. This work reviews this clinically important subject, with a focus on informing clinicians of recent advances in therapy to reduce the currently high mortality from alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis.