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Hepatology International
Published in: Hepatology International 4/2016

01-07-2016 | Review Article

New therapeutic targets in alcoholic hepatitis

Authors: Diana Arsene, Omar Farooq, Ramon Bataller

Published in: Hepatology International | Issue 4/2016

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Abstract

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide. ALD encompasses a spectrum of disorders including asymptomatic steatosis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis and its related complications, and the acute-on-chronic state of alcoholic hepatitis. While multidisciplinary efforts continue to be aimed at curbing progression of this spectrum of disorders, there is an urgent need to focus our efforts on effective therapeutic interventions for alcoholic hepatitis (AH), the most severe form of ALD. AH is characterized by an abrupt development of jaundice and complications related to liver insufficiency and portal hypertension in patients with heavy alcohol intake. The mortality of patients with severe AH is very high (20–50 % at 3 months). The current therapeutic regimens are limited. The development of new therapies requires translational studies in human samples and suitable animal models that reproduce clinical and histological features of human AH. This review article summarizes the clinical syndrome, pre-clinical translational tools, and pathogenesis of AH at a molecular and cellular level, with the aim of identifying new targets of potential therapeutic intervention.
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Metadata
Title
New therapeutic targets in alcoholic hepatitis
Authors
Diana Arsene
Omar Farooq
Ramon Bataller
Publication date
01-07-2016
Publisher
Springer India
Published in
Hepatology International / Issue 4/2016
Print ISSN: 1936-0533
Electronic ISSN: 1936-0541
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12072-015-9701-6

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