Correlation of severity of alcohol dependence with liver dysfunction (by transient elastography) in freshly diagnosed cases of alcohol dependence syndrome.

Abstract

Background: Alcohol-related liver disease contributes significantly to global mortality and healthcare costs, underscoring the urgency of early detection and non-invasive diagnostic tools such as transient elastography.

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between the severity of alcohol dependence syndrome (ADS) and liver dysfunction assessed via transient elastography in newly diagnosed patients.

Materials and methods: From October 2019 to September 2021, a cross-sectional observational study was conducted on 58 inpatients diagnosed with ADS according to International Classification of Diseases-10 criteria. The severity of alcohol dependence was assessed using the Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire (SADQ), serum biochemical markers, and liver stiffness measured by transient elastography within 96 hours of admission and again after four weeks of enforced abstinence. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences, with descriptive statistics applied to socio-demographic and clinical data. Paired t-tests compared biochemical markers, and Spearman rank correlation analyzed the relationship between SADQ scores and liver stiffness at admission and after abstinence.

Results: Initial SADQ scores indicated moderate alcohol dependence in 55% of participants. According to Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, 38% had a medium-to-severe risk of harmful alcohol consumption. Liver fibrosis assessment showed that 63.8% had no or mild fibrosis on day 1, increasing to 81.0% by day 28. Moderate to advanced fibrosis (measured above 7.5 kilopascal) decreased from 8.6%, 12.1%, and 15.5% on day 1 to 3.4%, 5.2%, and 10.3% on day 28, respectively. There was a statistically significant (P < 0.05) reduction in serum biochemical markers and mean liver stiffness after four weeks of abstinence.

Conclusions: The study underscores that the greater severity of alcohol dependence correlates with more pronounced liver function impairments and stiffness. Transient elastography indicated significant liver fibrosis in actively drinking patients, with notable improvement after one month of abstinence.