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Transjugular liver biopsy in severe alcoholic hepatitis

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Indian Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis although part of spectrum of alcoholic liver disease can have overlapping features, and differentiating them using clinical, biochemical, and imaging features is not always possible. Standard therapy for each differs, and steroid therapy while beneficial in alcoholic hepatitis may be detrimental in cirrhosis due to high infectious complications. We analyzed our experience with liver biopsy in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Methods

Male patients in the age group of 25–65 years who were clinically diagnosed with severe alcoholic hepatitis (DF > 32) were retrospectively analyzed and included in this study. All of them had undergone transjugular liver biopsy within the first 7 days of hospitalization.

Results

Thirty patients were included. Most were in the 35–55 age group. Jaundice was present in all patients with fever and tender hepatomegaly also being common. On histopathological evaluation, 33.3% (n = 10) suspected clinically to have alcoholic hepatitis had underlying cirrhosis.

Conclusion

Cirrhosis is found in one third of patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. This may alter our approach to management of this condition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University, Manipal, 576 104, India

    Shiran Shetty

  2. Department of Gastrenterology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641 004, India

    Shiran Shetty, L Venkatakrishnan & J Krishanveni

  3. Department of Pathology, PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Coimbatore, 641 004, India

    Shantha Kumari

Authors
  1. Shiran Shetty
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  2. L Venkatakrishnan
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  3. J Krishanveni
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  4. Shantha Kumari
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shiran Shetty.

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Conflict of interest

SS, LV, JK, and SK declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in patients were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments.

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Shetty, S., Venkatakrishnan, L., Krishanveni, J. et al. Transjugular liver biopsy in severe alcoholic hepatitis. Indian J Gastroenterol 36, 23–26 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-016-0720-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12664-016-0720-6

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