ASYMPTOMATIC HEPATOPATHY IS FREQUENT IN CHRONIC-ALCOHOLIC PANCREATITIS

Background: Chronic ethanol abuse is a common cause of chronic hepatic and pancreatic diseases in Western countries. The objectives of the p resent study were to determine the occurrence and the clinical evoluti on during follow-up of asymptomatic hepatic disease in Brazilian alcoh olics with chronic pancreatitis whose most important beverage is cacha ca, a beverage distilled from sugar cane. Patients-Methods: Thirty-two patients, mean age 35 years, with a mean daily ethanol intake of 204 g during a mean period of 16 years, presenting with chronic pancreatit is without clinical and laboratory features of hepatocellular failure, were followed up during 34 +/- 8 months after undergoing a percutaneo us biopsy of the liver and histological examination. Results: Hepatic injury was observed in 50% of the cases. During the follow-up, only on e patient showed clinical or biochemical evidence of hepatic deteriora tion or complication. Conclusions: In subjects with a chronic intake o f cachaca, the association between asymptomatic alcoholic hepatopathy and chronic alcoholic pancreatitis is frequent (50%). In chronic alcoh olic pancreatitis, associated hepatic disease may remain asymptomatic in the majority of the cases and has little influence on the outcome o f the patients, at least in a short-term follow-up.