Workshop on alcoholic hepatitis

Recently, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy organized a scientific seminar on "Alcoholic liver disease & alcohol dependence in cirrhotic patients" with the participation of about 120 doctors, pharmacist. Presentation at the seminar with Master - Doctor Dinh Da Ly Huong - Hospital of Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy and Dr. Miroslav Dousa - Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.

Alcoholic hepatitis is inflammation and necrosis of liver cells lasting 1 to 2 weeks. There are the following symptoms: loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, jaundice, and occasional psychosis. The disease can progress to cirrhosis due to drinking alcohol for many years. Cirrhosis of the liver is damaged frequently. Fatty liver is an early stage of liver disease caused by alcohol consumption, if the patient stops drinking alcohol at this stage, the disease can recover itself.

There are many causes of liver disease such as viruses, genetic defects, drugs, chemicals . and causes of drinking or being mentioned. Alcohol is one of many toxic substances that people voluntarily consume. In our country, according to some statistics from hospitals, the number of patients who have to enter for treatment of excessive alcoholic cirrhosis tends to increase recently. About half of patients in the Department of Gastrointestinal Hepatology are cirrhosis. Alcohol is the second leading cause of cirrhosis after hepatitis B virus. In addition, the Health Strategy and Policy Institute said that the level of alcohol consumption in Vietnamese people is twice as high as the standard of safety. Full permission.

(Photo: Thanhnien) However, the risk of death from alcoholic hepatitis is always mentioned by the medical community. Master Dinh Da Ly Huong said: 'Alcoholic hepatitis can be fatal, especially for those who have had liver disease before. In people with hepatitis C virus, alcohol can accelerate the process of fibrosis in the liver. People who have cirrhosis for any reason if they drink alcohol make the liver worse and worse. '

Alcoholic hepatitis usually occurs in alcoholics, but it also occurs in people who sometimes drink alcohol. The reaction of the liver with alcohol is different in every human body.

Alcoholic hepatitis is not easily diagnosed. Sometimes symptoms may get worse after a period of stopping drinking alcohol rather than drinking alcohol. Usually progressive illness after heavy drinking, can also be seen in moderate drinkers. Blood tests are a method to help diagnose the disease. The most accurate diagnosis is the liver biopsy method.

Dr. Miroslav Dousa has done research on the signs of alcohol dependence in cirrhotic patients, saying: 'The knowledge of alcohol abstinence is the basic information for the treatment of patients. Requiring a doctor to treat must be aware of the patient's medical history, family factors, psychological interrogation, and degree of alcohol dependence '.

Ways to prevent alcoholic liver disease that doctors often recommend:

- Don't drink alcohol or beer is the best way

- People who regularly drink alcohol should get regular tests to detect liver damage early

- In people who already have liver disease, the medical literature recommends that you absolutely do not drink alcohol because it will make the liver worse. Alcohol in alcohol must undergo a process of filtering and metabolizing in the liver, causing accumulation of toxins in beer and alcohol into gna

- If you are completely healthy and have a habit of drinking alcohol, try to reduce drinking alcohol and switch to enjoying wine and beer every day in moderate quantities.

In addition, there are several ways to reduce liver damage, but more research is needed:

- Some studies conclude that drinking coffee may help prevent liver damage caused by drinking alcohol. The risk of chronic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis is reduced if people drink a few cups of coffee a day. The mechanism of operation and protection of the liver of coffee is not known. Although it protects the liver, we cannot increase the amount of coffee that is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol we drink. The best way for people to drink alcohol is probably to gradually reduce the amount of alcohol and instead increase the habit of drinking coffee

- Products derived from herbs, such as Anti Ethanol 07 have also been studied and initially showed that this substance is effective. Dr. Miroslav Dousa stated: 'This is a supplement and liver protection agent with liver enzyme-enhancing activity, known as alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), and acetaldehyd dehydrogenase (ALDH) and thus enhances except ethanol and acetaldehyde, demonstrating liver protection '. Therefore, when drinking AE-07 before drinking alcohol, it can protect liver cells from the harmful effects of alcohol and reduce unpleasant symptoms after drinking alcohol such as headache, dizziness and sadness. vomiting, fatigue, lack of concentration.

Master - Doctor Dinh Da Ly Huong