Alcoholic liver disease.

Mortality rates from liver disease in the UK are increasing and alcohol is a major contributor to this trend. Over the last decade, there has been a 5-fold increase in young patients aged 35–55 years developing alcoholic cirrhosis. Patients drinking harmful levels of alcohol, with evidence of organ damage, are known to consult their GPs twice as often as the average patient; however, only 2–5% are known to primary care as harmful drinkers. This article aims to describe the epidemiology of alcoholic liver disease and its management within primary care including indications for referral to secondary care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]