Ethanol and Liver Disease

Abstract

It is not clear whether fatty liver progresses to cirrhosis or whether the fatty change and the necrosis-cirrhosis process are independent disorders in alcoholic persons. Why all heavy consumers of alcohol do not become cirrhotic (it is estimated that one in 10 or 12 does) is a puzzling question. There does seem to be much to indicate that certain persons are especially susceptible to development of severe cirrhosis as a result of only moderately heavy ethanol consumption.