Moisés Diago, Manuel Hernández-Guerra, Agustín Albillos, Rafael Bañares, Esther Molina, María Teresa Arias-Loste, Pere Ginès, Manuel Romero-Gómez, María Jesús Pareja, Joaquín Cabezas, Anna Lligoña, Santiago Tomé, Rocío Gallego, Javier Abad, Joan Genescà, Ramon Bataller, Juan Caballería, Ramon Planas, Rocío Aller, Javier Salmerón, F. Jorquera, José A. Carrión, José Altamirano, Carmelo García-Monzón, Meritxell Ventura-Cots, Miren García-Cortés, Conrado M Fernández Rodríguez, and Llorenç Caballería
Alcohol-related liver disease (ARLD) is the most prevalent cause of advanced liver disease and liver cirrhosis in Europe, including Spain. According to the World Health Organization the fraction of liver cirrhosis attributable to alcohol use in Spain is 73.8% among men and 56.3% among women. ARLD includes various stages such as steatohepatitis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular cancer. In addition, patients with underlying ARLD and heavy alcohol intake may develop alcoholic hepatitis, which is associated with high mortality. To date, the only effective treatment to treat ARLD is prolonged withdrawal. There are no specific treatments, and the only treatment that increases life expectancy in alcoholic hepatitis is prednisolone. For patients with alcoholic hepatitis who do not respond to treatment, some centres offer the possibility of an early transplant. These clinical practice guidelines aim to propose recommendations on ARLD taking into account their relevance as a cause of advanced chronic liver disease and liver cirrhosis in our setting. This paper aims to answer the key questions for the clinical practice of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, as well as Internal Medicine and Primary Health Centres, making the most up-to-date information regarding the management and treatment of ARLD available to health professionals. These guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations for the clinical management of this disease.