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Cases of alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) are increasing at a steady rate in the United States with more patients presenting with alcohol-associated hepatitis and alcohol-associated cirrhosis. While alcohol use has increased across many demographic groups, women are suffering from a greater increase in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and are at a greater risk of ALD due to pathophysiological differences which include absorption of alcohol, first pass metabolism, and hormonal differences. Differences across race have also been found with Native Americans and Hispanics suffering from some of the largest increases in ALD rates. Younger adults are heavily impacted by rising rates of both AUD and ALD. Comorbidities such as obesity and NASH have been shown to augment the deleterious effects of AUD and ALD, resulting in more advanced liver disease. Finally, COVID-19 and policies related to the pandemic have resulted in increased AUD across many cohorts, which have resulted in marked increases in ALD. In conclusion, ALD rates are rising, with young people and women particularly impacted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although alcohol-associated liver disease has long been a major component of the liver disease landscape, it was overshadowed by chronic hepatitis C until recently. Nevertheless, with the declining incidence of hepatitis C in the wake of highly effective antiviral therapy, attention has shifted to the increasing burden of alcohol-associated liver disease. The incidence of advanced alcohol-associated liver disease, including acute alcoholic hepatitis and alcohol-associated cirrhosis, is rising in parallel with increasing rates of alcohol use disorders. As a result, alcohol-associated liver disease is now one of the most common indications for liver transplantation. Rates of liver transplantation for acute alcoholic hepatitis are rising as well in spite of the sparse guidance regarding candidate selection, counseling, postoperative care, long-term follow-up, and other best practices. To this day, liver transplant for acute alcoholic hepatitis remains a hotly debated clinical controversy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Alcohol cessation improves mortality in alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD), but access to treatment is limited. To address this gap, implementation and early feasibility and outcomes of a multidisciplinary ALD clinic are described.Methods: The clinic comprised a hepatologist, psychiatrist, psychologist, nurse, and social worker. Patients included those with alcohol-associated cirrhosis or acute alcoholic hepatitis who were not in the transplant evaluation process, who had less than 6 months' sobriety and willingness to engage in alcohol use treatment. Psychosocial metrics in addition to routine hepatic function labs were collected. Treatment plans were tailored based on patient preferences and needs after multidisciplinary discussion.Results: 89 patients were referred from both inpatient and outpatient settings, with 51 seen during the initial year. 38 remained active in clinic (4 died, 6 discharged, 3 moved to transplant clinic). 55% were women, 88% were white, 61% had private insurance. 49% had alcoholic hepatitis. 71% were decompensated. 80% had severe alcohol use disorder (AUD) and 84% had at least 1 comorbid psychiatric or substance use disorder. 63% chose one-on-one AUD treatment, 57% were prescribed relapse prevention medications. Mean MELD-Na score improved from baseline of 14 (SD 6.6) to 11.3 at 6 months (p=0.01). Hospital utilization significantly declined when comparing 6 months before to 6 months after initial visit (emergency department visits: 0.51 to 0.20 per person-month; inpatient admission: 0.34 to 0.14 per person-month; (β= -0.89, 95% CI -1.18 to -0.60).Conclusions: A multidisciplinary ALD clinic was feasible with encouraging early outcomes. Further research should explore ways to expand this model and increase clinic capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alcohol-related liver disease (ALD) is the medical manifestation of alcohol use disorder, a prevalent psychiatric condition. Acute and chronic manifestations of ALD have risen in recent years especially in young people and ALD is now a leading indication of liver transplantation (LT) worldwide. Such alarming trends raise urgent and unanswered questions about how medical and psychiatric care can be sustainably integrated to better manage ALD patients before and after LT. Critical evaluation of the interprofessional implications of broad and multifaceted ALD pathophysiology, general principles of and barriers to interprofessional teamwork and care integration, and measures that clinicians and institutions can implement for improved and integrated ALD care. The breadth of ALD pathophysiology, and its numerous medical and psychiatric comorbidities, ensures that no single medical or psychiatric discipline is adequately trained and equipped to manage the disease alone. Early models of feasible ALD care integration have emerged in recent years but much more work is needed to develop and study them. The future of ALD care is an integrated approach led jointly by interprofessional medical and psychiatric clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article provides practical advice for gastroenterologists on optimizing care for patients with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD). It emphasizes the importance of addressing AUD in patients with ALD and suggests implementing alcohol screening, brief interventions, and referral to treatment. The article also discusses the use of pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy for AUD treatment, including the caution needed when using Naltrexone in patients with liver disease. It concludes by providing resources for locating AUD treatment and highlighting the role of gastroenterologists in providing education, counseling, and referrals for at-risk patients. [Extracted from the article]