Alcoholic Liver Disease in China: A Disease Influenced by Complex Social Factors That Should Not Be Neglected.

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) encompasses liver damage caused by chronic, excessive alcohol consumption. It manifests initially as marked hepatocellular steatosis and can progress to steatohepatitis, liver fibrosis, and cirrhosis. With China's rapid economic growth, coupled with a complex social background and the influence of a deleterious wine culture, the number of patients with ALD in China has increased significantly; the disease has become a social and health problem that cannot be ignored.