Alcoholic liver disease: new insights into mechanisms and preventative strategies

Alcoholic liver disease has a known aetiology but a complex pathogenesis. It is an extremely common disease with a high mortality, but the reason why only a relatively small proportion of heavy drinkers progress to advanced disease remains elusive. Accumulating evidence points towards an elaborate interplay between metabolism, inflammation and immunity in the development of steatosis, hepatitis and fibrosis. These complex pathways leading to liver injury offer many potential susceptibility loci, as well as sites for potential therapeutic intervention.