The amelioration of AH by abstinence and the attenuation of oxidative stress.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alcohol abstinence is considered the cornerstone in the management of alcoholic hepatitis (AH), but the degree of improvement and how abstinence ameliorates alcoholic liver injury remains unclear. The purpose of the study was to investigate the amelioration of AH after 3 and 6 months of alcohol abstinence, and its possible mechanism.

METHODOLOGY: Thirty-six AH patients who strictly abstained from alcohol and 20 AH patients who did not abstain from alcohol, were followed-up for 6 months. The control group consisted of 15 healthy individuals with no history of alcohol abuse. The testing of serum biomarkers and abdominal CT scans were performed.

RESULTS

Alcohol abstinence ameliorated the AH by decreasing the liver enzyme and fibrotic markers, and improving the hepatic steatosis. Comparing between AH patients with and without alcohol abstinence, the ratio between hepatic and splenic CT value were 1.01 ± 0.13 and 0.75 ± 0.25, respectively (p<0.01). GSH and SOD levels were significantly higher, while the MDA level was significantly lower, in patients with abstinence compared to those without abstinence.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol abstinence is useful in the clinical management of AH. The attenuation of AH was associated with the decrease of oxidative stress.