Alcoholic liver disease.

Alcoholic liver disease consists of well defined entities. Fatty liver is the commonest hepatic abnormality in alcoholics and in most cases it is reversible. Possibly a sustained fatty liver occasionally may induce fibrosis. Alcoholic hepatitis or subclinical necrosis may also proceed to hepatic fibrosis. The latter can regress if no further injury occurs or it may develop into frank cirrhosis in case of continuing liver injury. A general model of alcoholic liver disease is presented.