Is Alcoholic Hepatitis Curable?

Posted on Mon, 10 Mar 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 10 Mar 2014 Answered on

Sat, 29 Mar 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : Is alcoholic hepatitis curable?

Answered by Dr. Surendiran Gaj (57 minutes later)

Brief Answer: yes, alcoholic hepatitis is curable. Detailed Answer: Hello there, Welcome to HCM, Yes, alcoholic hepatitis is curable. The treatment is based on the percentage of the liver damage. If you are affected with mild hepatitis, avoiding alcohol intake, ensure good nutrition; providing supplemental vitamins and minerals, including folate and thiamine is sufficient. If the damage of liver is little worsen, steroids like prednisolone are used to extent to prevent the inflammation and injury. In case of severe injury, Liver transplantation is available. So do not worry, its curable only,what you needed is proper medication and reduction in level of alcohol intake. Feel free to ask if you have any other query in mind. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Raju A.T

Follow up: Dr. Surendiran Gaj (6 minutes later)

Thank you for the information! I have been very concerned about recent blood test results I had done and there is SO much info out there its hard to process it all. My first blood test was just a routine one that came back with elevated liver enzymes. AST 66 ALT 18. I abstained from alcohol for a week and redid the test. My hep screen came back negative but my levels actually raised to AST 99 ALT 27. I thought at worse they would be the same. I drank tons of water...was very worries to see they actually went up. I'm healthy in every other result.

Answered by Dr. Surendiran Gaj (48 minutes later)

Brief Answer: AST/ ALT level alone do not predict the prognosis Detailed Answer: Hello XXXX, nice to see you again, I understand your feeling, but do not worry, as AST and ALT level alone do not predict the prognosis (outcome). In normal individual AST/ALT < 1, in case of alcoholic hepatitis its >2 . The rise of the single parameter like AST alone or ALT alone is XXXXXXX in your case there is associated increase in AST from 66 to 99 and ALT from 18 to 27, due to the underlying mild to moderate damage to the liver. Am happy to know that you are abstained for a week,I insist you to go on and avoid to binge on alcohol. The levels of enzymes falls down gradually, so don’t feel worried about the lab results. Have healthy diet as advised in previous query, your enzyme levels will drop to normal gradually. Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad