[Morphologic and functional status of the liver in patients with acute ethanol-intoxication and chronic alcoholism]

Current work is a continuation of the already published study on usefulness of enzymatic tests, biochemical parameters and ultrasonography for evaluation ethanol hepatotoxicity but histology testing of the liver bioptates is additionally included. Under examination there were 139 ethanol dependent patients admitted to the Department of Clinical Toxicology Jagiellonian University Medical College because of severe ethanol intoxication. The reference group comprised 30 healthy men, not exposed to hepatotoxic agents. Chosen enzymes activity and biochemical parameters were measured (before and after 3 weeks long controlled abstinence) and ultrasonography was performed in both the groups. Due to clinical indication the USG guided liver biopsy and histology testing was done in 20 patients from the ethanol dependent group. 68 of ethanol dependent patients underwent the post-abstinence control ultrasonography. A normalization in AST and ALT activity (p<0.001), bilirubin and Fe concentration as well as serum albumin elevation was noted in the ethanol dependent patients after controlled abstinence. The mean values of GGT, LDH, and PA activity were significantly diminished compared to the initial examination, but still significantly higher compared to the control group. The three weeks long abstinence did not change MCV and prothrombin index. The pathologic changes in liver ultrasonography were significantly higher in the group of ethanol dependent patients both in acute phase of intoxication and after abstinence and principally reflected the bioptate histology testing.