Risk factors for alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is still a frequent disorder, even though its incidence appears to be decreasing. In spite of intense investigation, the precise mechanisms leading to ALD are still imprecisely known. This is due in parr to the lack of a reliable animal model; in part to the difficulty of obtaining clinical data of adequate sample size and derived from unblase d populations and finally, from the lack of uniformity of the criteria used to define ALD. This paper will review what is known of the various pieces of this puzzle, with particular emphasis not only on the total amount of al cohol consumed but also on drinking patterns and type of alcoholic beverage ingested. The other potential factors such as age, gender, genetic backgro und nutritional status, occupational hazards and viral diseases (especially HCV infection) will be touched upon.