Ethanol, mostly in alcoholic beverages, (to be) ______ an important cause of hepatitis. Usually alcoholic hepatitis (to come) ________________ after a period of increased alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis (to characterize) _________________________________by a variable symptoms, which may (to include) _______________ feeling unwell, enlargement of the liver, development of fluid in the abdomen ascites, and modest elevation of liver blood tests. Alcoholic hepatitis can (to vary) _______________ from mild with only liver test elevation to severe liver inflammation with development of jaundice, prolonged prothrombin time, and liver failure. Severe cases (to characterize) __________________ by either dulled consciousness or the combination of elevated bilirubin levels and prolonged prothrombin time; the mortality rate in both categories (to be) ______50% within 30 days of onset.
Alcoholic hepatitis (to be) _____ distinct from cirrhosis caused by long term alcohol consumption. Alcoholic hepatitis can (to occur) ________________ in patients with chronic alcoholic liver disease and alcoholic cirrhosis. Alcoholic hepatitis by itself (not to lead) ____________________ to cirrhosis, but cirrhosis (to be) _______ more common in patients with long term alcohol consumption. Patients who (to drink) _________ alcohol to excess (to find) ______ also more often than others _____________ to have hepatitis C. The combination of hepatitis C and alcohol consumption (to accelerate) ________________________ the development of cirrhosis in Western countries.
