Medical Condition:
Chronic Alcoholic Hepatitis
An acute or chronic degenerative and inflammatory lesion of the liver in the alcoholic which is potentially progressive though sometimes reversible. It does not necessarily include steatosis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis of alcoholics, although it is frequently associated with these conditions. It is characterized by liver cell necrosis, infiltration by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and lymphocytes, and Mallory bodies. The morphologic changes of chronic alcoholic hepatitis are not likely to be confused with chronic hepatitis (HEPATITIS, CHRONIC).