22nd July 2023

Pathophysiology

There are multiple pathways through which alcohol can damage the liver, including the production of free radicals and oxidative stress.

The histological stages of ALD include: steatosis, alcohol-related steatohepatitis, fibrosis and cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as a further complication. Similar stages are seen in non-alcohol related fatty liver disease. However, there are a few key histological findings which are more typical of ALD, such as hyaline sclerosing necrosis and fibro-obliterative damage in the hepatic veins, which can be used to distinguish the two.

British Liver Trust – Standardised UK Mortality Rate Data. 

Image Source: British Liver Trust (no date). Standardised UK Mortality Rate Data – All Ages. Available at: https://britishlivertrust.org.uk/about-us/media-centre/statistics/ (Accessed: 28 June 2023).