Alcoholic liver disease: Treatment

Abstract

The excess consumption of alcohol is associated with alcoholic liver diseases (ALD). ALD is a major healthcare problem, personal and social burden, and significant reason for economic loss worldwide. The ALD spectrum includes alcoholic fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis of ALD is based on a combination of clinical features, including a history of significant alcohol intake, evidence of liver disease, and laboratory findings. Abstinence is the most important treatment for ALD and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines. In addition, new therapeutic targets are being under investigation.

Core tip: Abstinence is the most important treatment for alcoholic liver diseases and the treatment plan varies according to the stage of the disease. Various treatments including abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available. For severe alcoholic hepatitis, corticosteroid or pentoxifylline are recommended based on the guidelines.

INTRODUCTION

Alcohol is consumed worldwide and has long been identified as a major risk factor for all liver diseases (Figure 1)[1]. Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is the third most common cause of chronic liver disease, and it has a global burden of mortality[2]. According to a study of the United States, the incidence of chronic liver disease was 72.3 per 100000 among which 24% had chronic liver disease due to alcohol[3]. Globally, alcohol-attributable liver cirrhosis was responsible for 493300 deaths in 2010 (156900 female deaths and 336400 male deaths)[2]. The number of alcohol-related deaths remains high at 2.5 million deaths annually, constituting 4% of all deaths worldwide[4] and death from ALD constitute approximately 25% of deaths due to alcohol consumption[5].

Figure 1.

Total adult per capita consumption (World Health Organization Global Status Report on Alcohol and Health, 2011).

Many factors affect the development of alcoholic liver injury including the dose, duration, and type of alcohol consumption; drinking patterns; sex; ethnicity; and associated risk factors including obesity, viral disease, and genetic factors[6]. The histological spectrum of ALD varies from simple fatty liver to cirrhosis, including the development of hepatocellular carcinoma[7].

ALD is preventable and reversible by timely treatment. However, ALD is often asymptomatic in the early stages and can only be identified by laboratory findings. Screening and treatment for alcohol-use disorders is the first approach for treating ALD[8]. ALD treatment varies depending on the stage of the disease[6,8] (Figure 2). Abstinence is the most important therapeutic intervention for patients with ALD. Various treatments such as abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery are currently available for the spectrums of ALD[6]. In particular, in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, steroid or pentoxifylline can be used according to recommendations of the guidelines. In patients with cirrhosis, portal hypertension and complications such as bleeding, encephalopathy, or ascites, should be treated according to the treatment guidelines[9,10]. However, this medical treatment for ALD has not significantly changed over the past 40 years. The slow therapeutic advance in the field of ALD has resulted from the lack of experimental models of ALD and from difficulties in performing clinical trials in patients with ALD. This review focuses on the current management of ALD and suggests new therapeutic target in the management of ALD.

Figure 2.

Therapeutic algorithm of alcoholic liver disease.

ABSTINENCE

Immediate abstinence is the most important treatment option for patients with ALD[11,12]. Continued drinking is associated with the eventual development of cirrhosis in approximately 20% of individuals[13]. Abstinence improves the survival and prognosis of patients with ALD and prevents progression to liver cirrhosis through histologic improvement and reduction in portal pressure[14,15]. Alcoholic steatosis can be reversed after abstinence for several weeks[16] and multivariate analysis showed that persistent alcohol intake was an independent poor prognostic marker[12].

With respect to pharmacological treatment, some medications such as baclofen, acamprosate, and naltrexone have been used to encourage abstinence in patients with alcohol use disorder[17,18]. However, few data are available regarding the use of pharmacological agents in the treatment of ALD, because agents such as naltrexone or acamprosate undergo extensive liver metabolism; thus drug-related liver damage is possible[19]. More studies that provide evidence of the efficacy and safety of these agents in the treatment of ALD are needed.

Baclofen is a GABA_B receptor agonist that is used as an anti-spasticity medication to treat neurological disorder[20]. Some reports have recently suggested that baclofen may be valuable to the treatment of alcohol dependence[21-23]. Acamprosate reduces withdrawal and cravings for alcohol. In a meta-analysis, acamprosate had a significant beneficial effect on enhancing abstinence in recently detoxified, alcohol-dependent patients[24]. Naltrexone decreases excessive drinking and the recurrence rate and increasing the abstinence duration in patients with alcohol dependence[25,26].

With respect to psychotherapy for abstinence, brief intervention is an effective method that includes motivational interviewing and counseling over a limited time span[27]. A meta-analysis found evidence for the positive impact of brief interventions on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related morbidity and mortality[28,29]. It is necessary for ALD patients to consult with psychologist about psychological and social support for abstinence.

NUTRITIONAL THERAPY

Malnutrition is a major complication of ALD and this has been studied, especially in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Malnutrition worsens clinical outcome in ALD, and nutritional support improves nutritional status and may improve clinical outcome.

The mechanisms for malnutrition are multifactorial. Poor intake, anorexia, vomiting, mal-digestion, iatrogenic causes, metabolic disturbance, or mal-absorption might cause malnutrition in patients with ALD[30]. Mendenhall et al[31] suggested that most patients with ALD are malnourished. In this study, patients had almost 50% of energy intake from alcohol. Thus, while calorie intake was frequently not inadequate, there was often deficient intake of protein and critical nutrients.

The severity of liver disease generally correlated with the severity of malnutrition[32]. Patients who voluntarily consumed > 3000 kcal/d had virtually no mortality whereas those consuming < 1000 kcal/d had > 80% 6-mo mortality[33]. Moreover, the degree of malnutrition correlated with the development of serious complications such as encephalopathy, ascites, and hepatorenal syndrome[34].

Early intervention with nutrition therapy may improve treatment response, alleviate symptoms, and improve the quality and quantity of life[35,36]. In one trial, nutritional supplementation through a feeding tube significantly improved liver function in inpatients with ALD as assessed by serum bilirubin levels and antipyrine clearance, compared to inpatients who ate a hospital diet[37]. In patients with severe hepatitis, the parenteral nutrition group showed an overall mortality rate that was comparable to that of the steroid treatment group[38].

A symptom-based and supportive approach is necessary to achieve appropriate nutritional therapy in patients with ALD[39]. Nutrition goals include providing adequate calories, protein, and nutrients to support hepatocyte regeneration within the existing metabolic alterations of liver disease[40]. The use of branched chain amino acids (34 g/d) has been shown to decrease the number of hospitalizations due to complications of liver cirrhosis[41,42]. Depending to the status of ALD, 1.2-1.5 g/kg per day of protein and 35-40 kcal/kg per day should be supplied in addition to medical treatment[43]. Vitamin A, thiamine, vitamin B₁₂, folic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and zinc may be administered to patients with ALD along with nutritional therapy[44,45].

Enteral nutrition is desired over parenteral nutrition because of cost, risk of sepsis of the parenteral nutrition line, preservation of the integrity of the gut mucosa, and prevention of bacterial translocation and multiple organ failure[46]. Moreover, total parenteral nutrition can, in some instances, cause liver disease as one of its complications.

ALCOHOL WITHDRAWAL SYNDROME

Alcohol withdrawal syndrome is characterized by the symptoms and signs that occur 6-24 h following the cessation of alcohol consumption among those who habitually drink excessively. The indications for admission are severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome, high levels of recent drinking, a history of withdrawal seizures or delirium tremens, the co-occurrence of a serious medical or psychiatric illness, or failure to recover in outpatient treatment[47].

Long-acting benzodiazepines [chlordiazepoxide (per oral, 25-100 mg every 4-6 h) or diazepam (per oral/intravenous/intramuscular, 5-10 mg every 6-8 h)] are recommended for the prevention of seizures, and an intermediate-acting benzodiazepine [lorazepam (per oral/intravenous/intramuscular, 1-4 mg every 4-8 h)] is recommended for patients with severe alcohol withdrawal syndrome, advanced age, recent head trauma, liver failure, respiratory failure, other serious medical comorbidities, or obesity[47-52]. Carbamazepine (per oral, 200 mg every 6-8 h) can be used as an alternative to benzodiazepine and is effective in seizure prevention[47]. Haloperidol (per oral/intramuscular, 0.5-5 mg every 8-12 h) can be used carefully as an adjunctive therapy only in cases of agitation or psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations that are not controlled by benzodiazepine[47-52]. Thiamine should be administered to all patients with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (100-300 mg/d) and maintained for 2-3 mo following the resolution of their withdrawal symptoms[53]. Thiamine should be given before administering fluids containing glucose.

TREATMENT OF ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids (prednisolone 40 mg/d for 28 d followed by tapering over 2-4 wk) are the mainstay of treatment for severe alcoholic hepatitis (modified discriminant function ≥ 32 or presence of encephalopathy). The modified discriminant function can be calculated by the equation of 4.6 × [prothrombin time_patient - prothrombin time_control (s)] + serum total bilirubin (mg/dL). Typically, in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis, mortality rate within 28 d was 30%-50%.

The mechanism is thought to decrease inflammation by reducing the transcription of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-8. The efficacy of corticosteroids in alcoholic hepatitis has been evaluated in 13 randomized controlled studies and 4 meta-analyses since 1971[54,55]. However, there have been conflicting results[56,57]. Although there are mixed results from various studies, corticosteroids are overall currently considered to have survival benefit in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis. Unfortunately, alcoholic hepatitis is unresponsive to corticosteroid treatment in approximately 40% of patients (Table 1).

Table 1.

Treatment for alcoholic hepatitis

	Target	Method	Characteristic
Abstinence	Stop drinking	Baclofen, acamprosate, naltrexone, and psychotherapy	The role of pharmacologic agents in maintaining abstinence is unclear.
Nutritional support	Correct malnutrition	1.2-1.5 g/kg per day of protein and 35-40 kcal/kg per day	Vitamin A, thiamine, vitamin B12, folic acid, pyridoxine, vitamin D, magnesium, selenium, and zinc may be administered.
Corticosteroid	Decrease inflammation	Prednisolone 40 mg/d for 28 d followed by tapering over 2-4 wk	Increase in the serum bilirubin and Lille score > 0.45 after 1 wk of therapy are associated with worse outcome
Pentoxifylline	Ablate cytokines	400 mg 3 times/d for 28 d	Protective effect against hepatorenal syndrome
Infliximab	Ablate TNF-α	Not confirmed	Further studies are needed
Etanercept	Ablate TNF-α
N-acetylcysteine	Anti-oxidant
Metadoxine	Anti-oxidant
Propylthiouracil	Reduce ischemic damage
Colchicine	Anti-fibrosis
PL	Anti-fibrosis
AIIR blocker	Anti-fibrosis
Silymarin	Anti-oxidant and anti-fibrosis

PL: Polyunsaturated lecithin; AIIR: Angiotensin II receptor; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor.

To predict the prognosis following corticosteroid treatment, early changes in bilirubin levels and the Lille model were introduced[58,59]. Early changes in bilirubin levels are defined as a bilirubin level that is lower at 7 d than that on the first day of treatment[59]. Lille’s score (http://www.lillemodel.com), which is a more complicated but comprehensive evaluation method of the treatment response, is measured at 7 d after the start of treatment[58].

A score of > 0.45 suggests that a patient is not responding to corticosteroid therapy and a lower survival rate at 6 mo of 25%, which is lower than that of other reported more lower scores[58]. Recent studies have shown that classification as complete responders (Lille score ≤ 0.16), partial responders (Lille score 0.16-0.56), and null responders (Lille score ≥ 0.56) is associated with the 28-d survival rate[60]. From the finding that non-responders to corticosteroid are associated with the development of infection and a lower survival rate, discontinuing corticosteroid is generally recommended in non-responders (Figure 3)[61].

Figure 3.

Therapeutic algorithm of severe alcoholic hepatitis.

Pentoxifylline

Pentoxifylline (400 mg 3 times/d for 28 d) is considered as an alternative to corticosteroid treatment in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis[62]. The exact mechanism is not understood. However, pentoxifylline inhibits phosphodiesterase and increases the intracellular adenosine 3’,5’-cyclic monophosphate level inducing inhibition of cytokine expression and macrophage inflammatory protein-1a[63]. Pentoxifylline failed to decrease the serum TNF-α level in the treated group in another study[62]. The protective effect against hepatorenal syndrome appears to be the main mechanism of action against alcoholic hepatitis according to a randomized controlled study[62]. However, in a meta-analysis and systematic review, pentoxifylline failed to improve the survival rate[64-66]. In a study comparing the efficacy of pentoxifylline and prednisolone in severe alcoholic hepatitis, pentoxifylline showed superior efficacy in terms of mortality[67]. However, this study enrolled only 68 patients and the survival rates were 35.29% vs 14.71% (pentoxifylline vs prednisolone) which were relatively lower than that in previous studies[67]. Studies about combination treatment with pentoxifylline and corticosteroid have indicated no additional survival benefit[66,68]. Additionally, as the salvage treatment in non-responders to corticosteroid, pentoxifylline showed no additional benefit[69]. Overall, pentoxifylline is an efficient alternative to corticosteroid in severe alcoholic hepatitis, especially if there are contraindications to corticosteroid use (Figure 3). However, more confirmative studies are needed in the future.

Anti-TNF-α therapy

Anti-TNF-α agents have been developed to block TNF-α, a major cytokine involved in alcoholic hepatitis. Two anti-TNF-α agents have been investigated as therapy for alcoholic hepatitis, infliximab and etanercept. In a pilot study, combination therapy with infliximab and steroids was reported to be effective[70]. However, the trial was stopped early by the independent data and safety monitoring board because of a significant excess of severe infections and an insignificant increase in the deaths in the infliximab cohort (Table 1)[71].

Etanercept showed an increase in the short-term survival of patients in a pilot study[72]. However, a subsequent randomized, placebo-controlled trial revealed a worse 6-mo survival rate in the group treated with etanercept than in the placebo group[73]. Therefore, anti-TNF-α agents are currently not recommended for treating alcoholic hepatitis.

Anti-oxidants

N-acetylcysteine: The combination of N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant, with prednisolone has been studied. This study enrolled 174 patients who were randomly assigned to receive either prednisolone 40 mg/d for 28 d along with intravenous N-acetylcysteine for 5 d or prednisolone 40 mg/d for 28 d alone. Combination therapy improved the 1-mo survival in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. However, the 6-mo survival, which was the primary endpoint of the study, did not improve[74,75]. Further research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of N-acetylcysteine.

Metadoxine: Metadoxine, a combination of 2 antioxidants (pyridoxine and pyrrolidone), is potentially a useful drug in the treatment of ALD. In a large randomized controlled trial, there was significant improvement in the liver function tests in both groups. The percentage of patients with persistent hepatic steatosis as assessed by ultrasound, was also significantly lower in the metadoxine group (28% vs 70%)[76]. These positive effects were more noticeable in patients who abstained from alcohol compared to those who continued to drink. However, the clinical implications are still unclear; therefore, metadoxine is not recommended for the treatment of ALD. Further studies are required to better explain the significance of these observations on other clinical endpoints.

Miscellaneous agents

Propylthiouracil: Propylthiouracil has also been evaluated for the treatment of acute hepatitis. In some studies, PTU improved the mortality rate by suppressing hypermetabolic activation[77,78]. However, in a Cochrane meta-analysis of 6 studies with 710 ALD patients that compared propylthiouracil versus placebo, there was no clear improvement in the liver histology or liver-related or overall mortality rate[79,80].

Colchicine: Colchicine affects hepatic fibrogenesis, including the inhibition of collagen production, the enhancement of collagenase activity, and the interference with collagen transcellular trafficking. In addition, colchicine also has favorable effects on cytokine production associated with fibroblast proliferation. In clinical studies involving patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis, colchicine showed anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects[81,82], and had a positive effect on survival[83]. However, controlled trials later had conflicting results[84].

Polyunsaturated lecithin: Polyunsaturated lecithin is extracted from soybeans and is a constituent of cell membranes[85]. Polyunsaturated lecithin appears to improve histology and reduce the activation of hepatic stellate cells in baboons with alcoholic liver injury[86]. However, polyenylphosphatidylcholine did not show a clear association with the progression of liver fibrosis in a follow-up randomized controlled study[87].

Angiotensin II receptor blocker: It has been reported in one randomized controlled trial that combination therapy with candesartan and ursodeoxycholic acid shows greater histologic improvement compared to monotherapy with ursodeoxycholic acid[88].

Silymarin: Silymarin, a milk thistle extract with anti-oxidative and anti-fibrotic properties, has been evaluated in many studies as a potential treatment agent for ALD[89,90]. Although one study reported that silymarin contributes to improved survival, this result has not been confirmed for ALD patients in meta-analyses such as the Cochrane review[89,91].

LIVER TRANSPLANTATION

ALD is one of the most common indications for liver transplantation in North America and Europe[92,93]. The survival rate of liver transplantation in ALD is comparable with other causes[94-97]. Indications for transplantation in ALD are identical to those in other end-stage liver diseases. Patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who do not respond to corticosteroids or pentoxifylline have a mortality rate of 50% to 75% at 6 mo[98].

In a review of 22 studies on ALD, relapse ranged from 3% to 49% with graft dysfunction and death ranging from 0% to 27% and 0% to 6.5%, respectively[99]. Therefore, it is essential to accurately identify patients before transplantation who are likely to relapse to harmful drinking after receiving the transplant. Six months of abstinence prior to liver transplantation is considered a necessary step[97,100-104]. Recidivism following liver transplantation is a common occurrence, which occurs at a rate of approximately 10%-52%. Alcohol consumption following liver transplantation causes histologic damage in the liver, including liver fibrosis[96,105,106].

Most European and North American liver transplantation centers do not consider patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis as candidates for liver transplantation because they do not fulfill the criterion of abstinence for 6 mo prior to liver transplantation[6,100]. However, a prospective, multi-center study showed an increase in the survival rate with liver transplantation in patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis who are not responsive to medical treatment[107]. Therefore, liver transplantation may be considered in the specific group of patients whose severe alcoholic hepatitis has failed medical treatment. However, improvement in long-term survival must be verified in future studies.

Similar to those who have received liver transplantation for other causes, patients who have received liver transplantation due to ALD show a high incidence of de novo cancer in other areas of the body[92,94,108-111]. These de novo cancers are associated with an increase in mortality following transplantation. The immunosuppressive drugs that are used post-transplantation may be related to the onset of new cancers. Compared to other causes, liver transplantation due to ALD is associated with a strikingly high rate of cardiovascular complications[92].

STEM CELL THERAPY

Recent studies have suggested that stem cell therapy may reduce liver inflammation, and subsequently improve fibrosis, which could be a promising strategy for patients with liver cirrhosis[112]. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) directly inhibit the activation of hepatic stellate cells via MSC-derived cytokines and may also induce hepatic stellate cells apoptosis via the Fas/FasL pathway[113]. MSCs have been reported to contribute to the direct production of new hepatocytes as well as to stimulate proliferation of endogenous hepatocytes[114,115]. In a pilot study of 12 patients with alcoholic cirrhosis[116], bone marrow-derived MSC used as therapy in alcoholic cirrhosis induces a histological and quantitative improvement for hepatic fibrosis. Further evidence is needed and a 2-phase multicenter trial in humans is now in process. In addition, a significant improvement in Child-Pugh score and albumin was reported in 9 cirrhotic patients given a portal vein infusion of autologous bone-marrow derived stem cells[117]. Better liver function after MSC therapy was also documented in patients with cirrhosis[118]. However, in others studies, infusion of autologous, expanded, mobilized, adult bone-marrow derived stem cells did benefit patients with ALD[119,120]. Therefore, further evidences about the pathogenic and therapeutic roles of bone-derived stem cells are needed.

In the stem cell therapy, unsolved issues in protocols require further investigation, such as the optimal type of transfused MSCs, the optimal therapeutic timing, the most effective number of stem cells, the best route of administration. The long-term clinical benefits and safety of stem cell-based therapies should be confirmed in a large-sized randomized controlled trial.

In the future, with a safe, controllable, and feasible recommendation, the clinical application of stem cells for the treatment of patients with ALD will be further warranted.

NEW TARGETS

New treatments or strategies are required to improve the survival of patients with ALD. Recent translational work using human liver tissue has been informative in identifying some potential therapeutic targets for ALD, such as CXC chemokines, IL-22/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, TNF receptor superfamily, complement, osteopontin, gut microbiota and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), endocannabinoids, and inflammasomes[121]. Hepatic expression of CXC chemokines, CXC family of chemokines includes IL-8 and Gro-α; these usually attract neutrophils, is increased and correlates with survival time and the degree of portal hypertension[122]. IL-22 might be used to treat patients with ALD because of its antioxidant, antiapoptotic, antisteatotic, proliferative, and antimicrobial effects[123]. Complement activation, apoptosis, and osteopontin up-regulation are prominent feature of ALD[124,125].

Gut-derived microbial LPS, a component of the outer wall of gram-negative bacteria, has been known as a central role in the pathogenesis of ALD[126,127]. Alcohol has been known to disrupt the gut barrier function, consequently, promotes the translocation of microbial LPS from the lumen of the intestines to the portal vein, where it travels to the liver. In the Kupffer cell, LPS binds to CD14, which combines with toll-like receptor 4, ultimately activating multiple pro-inflammatory cytokine genes[128]. Therefore, probiotics, prebiotics, antibiotics, or transplantation of gut-microbiota have been proposed as possible treatments for ALD by ablating the increase in LPS or repopulating the gut.

Ethanol consumption causes epigenetic changes that contribute to alcohol-induced liver damage. Exposure to ethanol or its metabolite acetate up-regulates histone acetylation in macrophages, contributing to the up-regulation of several pro-inflammatory cytokines that could promote alcoholic hepatitis[129]. Therefore, epigenetic modifications can be new therapeutic target.

CONCLUSION

ALD is a broad term that encompasses a spectrum of phenotypes ranging from simple fatty liver to alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The mechanisms underlying the development of these different disease stages are not fully understood. The standard treatment for ALD, which includes abstinence, nutritional therapy, pharmacological therapy, psychotherapy, and surgery, has not changed in the last 40 years. Novel pathophysiology-oriented therapies are needed for patients with ALD in the future.