Familial predisposition to alcoholic liver disease: a case-control study.

Objectives: The variable susceptibility to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) may be genetic in origin, but clear candidate genes have not yet emerged. This study aimed to assess familial clustering of ALD using a case-control strategy.

Methods: We recruited two cohorts of heavy drinkers (>60 U/week for men or >40 U/week for women): 291 individuals with decompensated ALD (Child's grade B or C) and 208 controls with similar alcohol consumption but no evidence of liver disease.

Severity of alcohol dependence in decompensated alcoholic liver disease: comparison with heavy drinkers without liver disease and relationship to family drinking history.

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare alcohol dependence severity in patients with severe alcoholic liver disease (ALD) with that in heavy drinkers without liver disease.

Methods: Short alcohol dependence data and lifetime alcohol questionnaires applied to unselected heavy alcohol drinkers (>60 units/week (M) or 40 units/week (F) for >5 years) with either (a) decompensated ALD (patients n = 136) or (b) no evidence of serious liver disease by clinical, biochemical and ultrasound evaluation ('controls' n = 148).

Results: The SADD alcohol dependence severity score (range 0-42) in patients with ALD was >28 (severe dependence) in 36 cases (26%); slightly higher than that in heavy-drinking controls taken as a whole; similar to that in controls who were seeking healthcare but higher than that in controls who were not; and lower than that in controls who attended specialist alcohol services.

Cytokine gene polymorphisms in heavy drinkers with and without decompensated liver disease: a case-control study.

Background: Twin studies have suggested some genetic predisposition to alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Cytokines may be involved in ALD pathogenesis. Several cytokine genes contain functionally significant polymorphisms.

Bouveret's Syndrome: a Case Report.

Bouveret's syndrome is a well known clinical entity; its incidence however, is uncommon. An unusual complication of cholelithiasis, Bouveret's syndrome should be considered in an elderly patient presenting with acute gastric outlet obstruction.We describe a case of an elderly female patient presenting with acute gastric outlet obstruction secondary to a massive gallstone and discuss the imaging appearances and therapeutic options for this rare condition.

HFE genotypes in decompensated alcoholic liver disease: phenotypic expression and comparison with heavy drinking and with normal controls.

Objectives: Predisposition to alcoholic liver disease (ALD) may be partly genetic. Heterozygosity for the HFE mutations C282Y and/or H63D has been associated with more severe disease in several liver conditions. Studies in ALD have not used controls matched for alcohol consumption and results have been conflicting.