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Patterns of Potts et al for Discontinuation of Alcohol Abuse By a Patient with Alcoholic Liver Disease

Description

A person with alcoholic liver disease is advised to abstain from alcohol. Potts et al listed the various patterns of response in alcoholics to such guidance. The authors are from Brighton and Sussex University in Brighton and King's College Hospital London.


Patient selection: alcohol abuse with alcoholic liver disease

 

Parameters:

(1) early pattern (during first 3 months)

(2) subsequent pattern

(3) current status (for >= 3 months)

 

Early Abstinence

Subsequent Abstinence

Current Abstinence

Designation

Y

Y

Y

consistent abstainer

Y

Y

N

"late relapser"

Y

N

Y

"transient relapser"

Y

N

N

eventual relapser

N

Y

Y

eventual abstainer

N

Y

N

"transient abstainer"

N

N

N

continued drinker (consistent drinker)

 

where:

• The designations in quotes were not listed in the original 4 options.

 

Abstinence is associated with improved survival. However, the authors noted that for patients with severe alcoholic hepatitis the survival benefit only became statistically significant after 18 months.


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