Measurement of intrahepatic pressure in alcoholic liver disease

Intrahepatic pressure was measured in 172 subjects (148 patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and 24 controls with normal liver function and structure). The pathologic criteria used to classify the alcoholic liver disease were: minimal lesions, steatosis, hepatitis without fibrosis, hepatitis with fibrosis and cirrhosis. The increments in the pressure values were directly related to the degree of structural liver damage. Intrahepatic manometry and liver biopsy, when performed together are useful parameters in the diagnosis of current anatomic and hemodynamic state of chronic alcoholic liver disease.