Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis in Young Female: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Challenge

Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is a disease due to excessive alcohol consumption that manifest as fatty liver, alcoholic and therapeutic challenge of alcoholic liver disease in young aged female. A female, 24 years old, came with complaints of bloody vomiting, blacktarry stool, abdominal distention and history of alcohol consumption (canned ascites, hepatosplenomegaly, and bilateral legs oedema. Laboratory examinations showed thrombocytopenia hepatomegaly with coarse heterogenic ecoparenchyma, portal vein dilatation, and splenomegaly. Diagnosis of was given supportive therapy.


INTRODUCTION
Alcoholic liver cirrhosis is a disease due to excessive alcohol consumption that manifest as fatty liver, or liver cirrhosis.Alcohol consumption as much as 60 -80 g per day (approximately 75-100 mL/day) for 20 years or more in male, or 20 g/day (approximately 25 1 Clinical syndrome of alcoholic hepatitis can be asymptomatic.However, in severe condition, this disease can be life-threatening with symptoms including jaundice, ascites, kidney failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, increased risk of infection, and encephalopathy. 2The Royal Free Hospital reported that 20-30 patients in a year with severe alcoholic liver disease were referred from district hospitals.Several studies stated that mortality rate in acute severe alcoholic hepatitis was as high as 58% and could 2,3 Although there is still lack of evident to effective treatment, administration of corticosteroid, and appropriate management in patients with alcoholic liver disease can decrease the development of life-threatening complications.One of the severe complications is hepatorenal syndrome.This it has happened. 2,3lcoholic liver cirrhosis is a complex disease.The success of management depends on the integration of all competencies in public health, epidemiology, addiction behaviour, and alcohol-induced organ injury.The main intervention to decrease alcohol abuse and secondary intervention to decrease alcohol-associated morbidity and mortality depend on the coordinated action from multidisciplinary team which has been established in local, national, and international level. 3anagement of alcoholic liver cirrhosis is based on the severity of the illness and objective of treatment.Complications of cirrhosis, including evidence of liver failure (encephalopathy) and portal hypertension (ascites, variceal bleeding), are treated similar to non-alcoholic liver disease, with the main attention given to other organ dysfunction, which is particularly associated with alcohol. 4The aim of this case report was to explore the diagnostic and therapeutic challenge of alcoholic liver disease in young aged female.

CASE ILLUSTRATION
A female, 24 years old, came with complaints of blood vomiting and black stool since 1 day before hospital admission.The volume of blood vomiting was ± 150 cc without precipitated by abdominal pain.Patient's stomach distended since 2 months before hospital admission.Patient was a housewife, married, and had a 1-year-old daughter.Before married, patient worked as a night bar guard and routinely consumed alcohol at work with the frequency of 4-5 times/week, and 4-5 cans of beer/day (equal to 56-70 grams of alcohol per day).
Based on physical examination performed in the emergency department, we found blood pressure 110/50 mmHg, heart rate 110 bpm, respiratory rate 24x/minute.Conjunctiva were anaemic and systolic murmur in all valves were discovered.In physical examination of the abdomen, hepatomegaly was found (liver span 5 cm), splenomegaly Schuffner 3 with positive undulation, and oedema in the lower extremities.
Laboratory findings in the first day showed severe anaemia with haemoglobin level of 2.9 g/dL, thrombocytopenia (125000/uL), and hypoalbuminaemia (2.65 gr/dL).AST and ALP level were increased with value of 175 U/L and 456 U/L, respectively.Albumin-globulin ratio was 0.93 g/dL.Serum ascites albumin-gradient was 2.20 g/dL (with albumin level was 2.65 gr/dL).Bilirubin level was increased with total bilirubin value of 2.71 mg/dL, direct bilirubin 2.36 mg/dL and indirect bilirubin 0.35 mg/dL.Hepatitis seromarkers (HbsAg and anti-HCV) and ANA test results were negative.using nasal cannula with the rate of 2-4 litre per minute, nasogastric tube was placed and gastric lavage was performed.In this patient, upper gastrointestinal bleeding was management by intravenous administration of omeprazole bolus 80 mg, followed with omeprazole drip 8 mg/hour for 3 days.For the anaemia, patient was given transfusion of PRC 2 unit/day with target of haemoglobin of 8 grams/ dL.In addition, patient was also given intravenous Ceftriaxone injection 1 x 1 gram and oral lactulose of 3 x15 cc.
After gastric lavage was clear for 3 times, patient was given soft, low-salt diet 1700 kcal/day.Patient was also given supportive therapy of intravenous Furosemide 1x20 mg, spironolactone tablet 1x100 mg and propranolol tablet 2x10 mg.In day-2, day-3, and was performed with a total of 9700 mL Liver biopsy was performed in day-10 of hospitalisation and showed the presence of hydropic degeneration, necrotic periportal in several portal ducts, mild lobular necrosis in several lobules duct, metavir F2 with moderate histologic activity.
Haemoglobin level was achieved in day-4 hospitalisation which was 9.2 gram/dL.Albumin level increased gradually with the value of 2.27 gram/dL in day-10 of hospitalisation.Patient was discharged after 14 days of hospitalisation in stable condition.

Alcoholic liver disease can happen in patient who consumed alcohol excessively. Although the correlation between dose and consequence of alcohol consumption and alcohol-induced liver injury has alcohol consumption which may further develop into support chronic hepatitis metavir F2
Abdominal ultrasound examination was performed in day-3 of hospitalisation and revealed the presence of hepatomegaly with coarse heterogenic ecoparenchyma and portal vein dilatation.Endoscopy was performed in day-6 of hospitalization and revealed the presence of oesophageal varices grade III-IV with erosive and hyperaemic surface, followed with three bands ligation.alcoholic liver disease.Nevertheless, most long-term heavy drinker may suffer from fatty liver, but only 10-35% develop into hepatitis and only 8-20% which will develop into cirrhosis. 5n this patient, there was habit of alcohol consumption since the age of 15 years old (9 years with frequency of alcohol consumption 4-5x/week, and 4-5 cans of beer/day.Estimated alcohol consumption was 56-70 grams/day.This was in accordance with the amount of daily intake which is a risk factor for alcoholic liver disease. 5irrhosis phase in alcoholic liver disease is associated with several histologic alterations, including the presence of Mallory hyaline, megamitochondria, or of at least 40 g/day continued to occur and increased the risk to develop cirrhosis up to 30%. 4 Patient consumed alcohol (in the form of canned beers as many as 4-5 cans/day) equal to 56-70 gram/day for approximately 9 years; therefore, the risk to develop alcoholic liver disease (fatty liver) was as much as 90% and liver cirrhosis as much as 30%, although the biopsy result Other factor causing this patient to suffer from alcoholic liver cirrhosis in faster period was nutritional factor.Malnutrition generally happen in alcohol addict, as they tend to substitute daily nutritional calories with 'empty' calories provided by ethanol. 5utritional status assessment in patients with alcoholic liver disease is made based on detailed anamnesis and physical examination.Patient's body mass index was within normal range, which was 21.5 kg/m 2 (BW: 51 kg; BH: 154 cm; measured after paracentesis of describe nutritional status of patient with alcoholic liver disease.Another measuring tool which is widely used is Subjective Global Assessment (SGA).This questionnaire can evaluate every changes of food intake, changes of body weight, gastrointestinal symptoms, functional capacity, and malnutrition physical sign showed by loss of subcutaneous tissue, fat or muscle mass, oedema, or ascites 8 .Based on calculation using SGA, patient belong to moderate malnutrition or suggestive malnutrition (B).
Diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease was made based on the presence of excessive alcohol consumption history, presence of sign and symptoms of liver disease, and absence of other aetiology of liver injury 3,6 .There determine alcohol as the aetiology of liver disease.Besides, alcohol can be one of a number of factors which cause liver injury, and alcohol involvement multifactorial risk factors. 5everal laboratory abnormalities, including increased serum aminotransferase may be found in patients with alcoholic liver disease.Generally, in severe alcoholic liver disease, serum AST may increase 2-6 times of the upper normal range.In approximately 70% of patients with alcoholic liver disease, AST/ ALT ratio may be higher than 2. AST/ALT ratio > 3 is highly likely to develop into alcoholic liver disease.In this case, there was increased AST and ALT with the value of 175 U/L and 79 U/L, respectively, with AST/ ALT ratio of 2.21.
Physical examination in patient with alcoholic liver disease may range from normal to the presence of signs of cirrhosis.In more severe condition, alcoholic liver disease may cause life-threatening conditions, such as jaundice, ascites, renal failure, gastrointestinal bleeding, increased risk of infection, and encephalopathy.In several studies, the mortality rate of acute severe alcoholic liver disease was as much as 58%, and increased to 78% in 1 year 7 .In this patient, we found anaemic conjunctiva, icteric sclera, and systolic murmur in all valves.From abdominal examination, we found hepatomegaly (liver span 15 cm), splenomegaly (Schuffner 3) with positive undulation and oedema in lower extremities.In accordance to the diagnostic criteria of cirrhosis, in the presence of signs of liver function failure and portal hypertension, it was established that patient suffered from cirrhosis.With the total bilirubin level of 2.71 mg/dL, albumin 2.65 g/dL, INR 1.23, ascites which well-responded with diuretic, this patient stood in Child Pugh B.
Imaging studies can be used to diagnose the liver disease.Nonetheless, with fat alteration, presence of cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma can be revealed through ultrasound, CT scan, or magnetic examinations.The main objective from imaging studies are to exclude the other causes of abnormal liver examinations in patient with alcohol abuse, such neoplastic liver disease. 3ltrasound appearances of patients with alcoholinduced cirrhosis liver disease include hepatomegaly with blunted edges, coarse liver parenchyma, and fatty liver.Irregular liver surface, hepatomegaly, and decreased ultrasound brightness are important signs to evaluate the presence of cirrhosis. 10In this patient, it was obtained that abdominal USG showed enlarged liver with cranio-caudal diameter of 15.4 cm with blunted edges.Although liver surface in patient's of coarse and heterogenic echoparenchyma, was in line with the ultrasound appearance of patient with alcoholic liver disease who suffered from cirrhosis.Biliary system in this patient was not dilated, however portal vein dilatation with diameter of 1.3 cm was found.Based on the study performed by Geleto G et al (2016), the normal diameter of portal vein in average was 10,6 mm ± 1,8 SD with respiraphasic variation (revealing average of increased normal portal diameter during inspiration which is above maximal value) as much as 25.6%. 11Therefore, it was obtained that increased diameter of portal vein was one of the signs of portal hypertension.This condition was supported with the velocity of patient's portal vein which portal system correlated with the presence and size of oesophageal varices.In cirrhosis, portal vein velocity will tend to decrease and if less than 16 cm/s, most likely portal hypertension is present. 12In the spleen, there was enlargement with cranio-caudal diameter of 20 cm, blunted edges, flat surface, homogen echoparenchyma, dilated splenic vein with diameter of 1.3 cm.Splenomegaly is an essential diagnostic sign of portal hypertension and generally found in patients with cirrhosis. 12iver biopsy has three main roles, which are: (1) to establish diagnosis, (2) to determine prognosis (stage of disease), and/or (3) to facilitate in determining the decision of management and therapy. 13In the guidelines recommended by AASLD in year 2009, biopsy in alcoholic liver disease, liver biopsy is essential to be performed in determining stage of disease. 13Although liver biopsy is a gold standard are several limitations in liver biopsy procedure.In a literature, it was stated that although liver biopsy had been performed in ideal condition, there was as much as 20%. 14natomical histopathologic results from liver biopsy preparation in this patient showed the presence of hydropic degeneration of liver cells, periportal and which this condition was in accordance with chronic hepatitis metavir F2.This result was not completely in accordance with the pathologic appearance of alcoholic liver disease in general.Hydropic degeneration is the initial phase of ballooning degeneration in liver cells, granule cytoplasm and contain hyaline Mallory's bodies. 15ecrosis is more commonly found in hepatitis caused by virus, autoimmune, and hepatotoxic medications, that represents the irreversible condition in acute and chronic liver disease which is caused by cell death due to hypoxia and ischemia. 16In this patient, the possibility of hepatitis due to virus and autoimmune had been excluded (non-reactive HbsAg, negative antiHCV, negative ANA test).Hepatitis which is caused by medications had not been fully excluded, but based on anamnesis, patient denied particular medications consumption in duration or dose which was at risk to cause hepatotoxic.
Studies have shown that liver biopsy performed with a single pass can miss the diagnosis of cirrhosis in 20%-50% of patients. 14 studies performing liver biopsy in all patients with alcoholic liver disease exhibited that histologic 4,14   This was suggested to be caused by the depth of biopsy of 4 cm could not be considered as gold standard, as to evaluate liver as a whole, needle with minimal length of 10 cm was needed. 14Although results of anatomical of alcoholic liver cirrhosis (in which Metavir F2 was obtained), patient had showed clinical alcoholic liver cirrhosis, which includes alcohol consumption equal to 56-70 gram/day for at least 9 years, signs of liver failure (hypoalbuminemia, icteric, ascites, lower extremities oedema) and signs of portal hypertension (massive ascites), hematemesis which was caused by oesophageal varices grade III-IV, portal vein dilatation, decreased velocity of portal vein, splenomegaly, and thrombocytopenia).Discordance of clinical and histologic appearance in this patient might represent that in several conditions, liver biopsy could possibly not able to show liver injury as a whole.Clinical condition and other parameters can be more relied on to establish the diagnosis of alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
Decision regarding treatment of alcoholic liver disease is very much based on patient's prognosis.In alcoholic liver disease, Maddrey discriminant function, is used to stratify disease severity.The formula is Maddrey discriminant function PT -control PT) + total bilirubin (mg /dL).Patient with the score of >32 has highest risk factor of mortality, with mortality rate 1 month as high as 30 -50%.In this patient, MDF result was 15.34; therefore, patient was categorised to have good prognosis.
Despite the severity of the disease, cessation of alcohol consumption is the most important thing in therapy and early management of alcohol abuse in patients with alcoholic liver disease.Nutritional status also need to be evaluated.In regard to the presence of Wernicke encephalopathy, supplementation of vitamin B complex is recommended.Recommened daily liposoluble vitamin need to be compensated.In this case, patient has stopped consuming alcohol since her This patient stood in the degree of alcoholic liver disease with low risk; hence, based on the algorithm showed in figure 6, patient was given supportive therapy, in the form of nasogastric tube placement for gastric lavage, PPI drip, oesophageal varices during hospitalization.After hematemesis and melena had stopped, patient was given propranolol 2x10 mg, furosemide 1x20 mg, spironolactone 1x100 mg, and Furthermore, other several