[Liver biopsy changes in chronic alcoholism].

Among 2 952 non-selected liver biopsies of adults in the 5-years-period 1970-1974 506 cases (17%) of clinically proved chronic alcoholics were found. Most of the patients are males, and even young men at an age of less than twenty years are taken with. The number of 31 professional drivers within this group is remarkable and alarming, too. The histomorphological picture may be divided into liver changes without any abnormal state (39%), fatty liver (40%), alcoholic hepatitis (18%) and cirrhosis (3%). Chronic alcoholism can be considered as one of the most important causes of the fatty liver. Clinical and pathological aspects of alcoholic liver changes are discussed.