Patient's question:
Doctor, I come from Xiamen City, Fujian Province. I work at the Administration for Industry and Commerce. I am a secretary. Because I always have to accompany the leader to host various banquets and act as a hostess at these banquets, my body has been ruined. Recently, I had a thorough medical examination at the hospital and was diagnosed with alcoholic fatty liver disease. This is very distressing to me. I want to know the treatment methods for alcoholic fatty liver disease?Doctor's answer:
Most patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease have a good prognosis. Generally, after abstaining from alcohol and receiving treatment for about one month, fat accumulation in the liver increases. In mild cases, it disappears after several months, while in severe cases, it takes one to two years to resolve. The prognosis for alcoholic hepatitis is poorer, but if patients can stop drinking and receive hospital treatment in a timely manner, most can recover, with a mortality rate of only 1.5% to 8%. The prognosis for alcoholic cirrhosis is poor. Statistics show that about 50% of patients with alcoholic cirrhosis may face death within five years. In 5% of cases, alcoholic cirrhosis can develop into liver cancer. It has been reported that patients with alcoholic fatty liver disease may progress to cirrhosis within 10 to 15 years if they do not receive proper treatment. Therefore, experts emphasize the importance of early prevention and timely treatment for alcoholic liver disease. Once a patient is diagnosed with alcoholic fatty liver disease, they should stop drinking and seek timely treatment.