[Recent Topics Concerning Alcoholic Liver Disease]

Alcoholic liver disease(ALD)is caused by liver damage due to excessive alcohol consumption in varying forms and severities. In Japan, although overall alcohol consumption is decreasing owing to population decline and aging, the number of heavy drinkers remains almost unchanged. Consequently, the total number of patients with ALD is decreasing, whereas the number of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis is increasing. In a national survey on cirrhosis conducted in 2023, the proportion of alcoholic cirrhosis has increased to 35%, surpassing that of hepatitis C virus-related cirrhosis as the leading cause. The primary treatment for ALD is abstinence from alcohol; however, social and medical approaches to alcohol dependence and nutritional management of improper alcohol intake are essential. Various clinical trials of ALD at different stages are being conducted, particularly in Western countries.