Risk factors for alcohol hepatotoxicity among male alcoholics

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in alcohol dependence. A common precursor to cirrhosis is alcoholic hepatotoxicity evident clinically by elevated serum liver enzymes. In this study 50 male patients with significant (greater than two times upper limits of normal) elevation of liver enzymes attending a veterans inpatient alcohol treatment center were matched by age and time since last drink to 50 male veterans without elevated liver enzymes. Patients with elevated liver enzymes were found to be more likely to be daily drinkers, less likely to indulge in binge drinking patterns or have alcoholic blackouts, and showed a trend towards a less severe pattern of alcoholism. Significant gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) elevations were found in patients consuming an average of 7 beers/day for 5 years, and significant aspartate aminotransferase (AST) elevations were found in patients consuming a threshold of 12 beers/day for 10 years. These findings are consistent with current research suggesting alcoholic cirrhosis is a result of a threshold exposure to alcohol in alcoholics with an additional environmental or genetic risk factor.