Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, part of the U.S. Department of Energy, recently studied the serious health effects of heavy drinking over many years.
They focused on a severe form of liver disease known as alcohol-associated hepatitis, which often occurs in people who have consumed large amounts of alcohol, like a six-pack of beer or a bottle of wine each day, for over a decade.
Liver disease from drinking can take several forms, including fatty liver, cirrhosis, and hepatitis.
Alcohol-associated hepatitis, however, is the most severe of these conditions. This disease damages the liver extensively and can be fatal for those affected.
Statistics show that about 10% of people diagnosed with alcohol-associated hepatitis die within one month of their diagnosis, and roughly 25% do not survive past six months. This condition represents the end result of long-term damage that has built up in the body over years.
In this study, scientists examined blood and tissue samples from 106 people. The samples came from 57 people with alcohol-associated hepatitis and 49 others who either had nonalcoholic liver disease, cirrhosis from alcohol, or were healthy.
Using advanced technology, the scientists analyzed over 1,500 proteins found in participants’ blood. The technology allowed them to identify the proteins affected by alcohol-associated hepatitis and provided a detailed view of how the disease changes the body at a molecular level.
The team found that about 100 proteins were noticeably altered in patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis. These proteins affect essential bodily processes such as inflammation, immunity, and blood clotting.
They are also important for basic liver functions. When these proteins change, it disrupts the liver’s ability to perform its normal tasks, leading to severe health complications.
The results of this study align with findings from earlier research on liver tissues from alcohol-associated hepatitis patients.
Both studies showed that these specific proteins in the blood are linked to major gene and protein disruptions in the liver, connecting protein changes in the blood directly with liver damage.
A key player in these changes is a molecule called HNF4A, which acts as a central regulator of gene activity in the liver.
Interestingly, HNF4A is also involved in other diseases, like pancreatic cancer and diabetes, indicating that liver health might share connections with these other serious conditions.
This study could pave the way for a new blood test to help identify alcohol-associated hepatitis in patients. A simple blood test could allow doctors to diagnose the disease earlier and start treatment sooner.
The research team is now exploring whether these protein changes in the blood could also help track patients’ responses to treatments. For example, if a particular protein level drops, it might show that the treatment is working.
Currently, doctors use steroids to manage the inflammation in alcohol-associated hepatitis, but this treatment has risks. Steroids can weaken the immune system, making patients more likely to get infections.
Scientists hope that new, safer treatments may become available in the future, and this study is a step in that direction.
This study underscores the risks of heavy, long-term drinking, which can cause serious, often irreversible harm to health. Understanding these risks can help people make better choices for their well-being.
For those interested in health studies, recent research has explored other topics, such as how vitamin K might lower the risk of heart disease and how certain diets could improve brain health.
If you care about smoking, please read studies about smoking may increase heart disease risk by 200% and e-cigarette smoke may cause lung cancer and bladder disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about the cause of weight gain after smoking cessation, and results showing smoking may cause white scars on the brain.
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