Characteristic features of liver disease in Japanese alcoholics.

Histopathological analysis for 94 Japanese alcoholic patients revealed alcoholic hepatitis 11%, chronic hepatitis 14%, fatty liver 16%, alcoholic liver fibrosis 22% and liver cirrhosis 31%. Alcoholic hyaline was found in only 30% of the cases of alcoholic hepatitis. Alcoholic liver fibrosis (without any findings except fibrosis and steatosis) was distinct from other type of diseases. Chronic hepatitis in alcoholics was mostly chronic active hepatitis (77%), whereas only 35% was chronic active hepatitis in nonalcoholics. Histologically typical alcoholic liver cirrhosis was uncommon.