Hepatic Changes in Heavy Drinkers among In- and Out-patients

Hepatic enlargement, abnormal bromsulphalein test and histological hepatic changes (fatty liver, fibrosis and cirrhosis) were found not only in heavy drinkers visiting the hospital with complaints of hepatic diseases but also in those with psychiatric complaints and with other complaints not directly indicative of hepatic or psychiatric diseases. These results are different from those of heavy drinkers among apparently healthy subjects. This difference is ascribed to accompanying protein deficiency in the group of the diseased. Heavy drinkers with complaints other than those of hepatic diseases who had been drinking alcohol up to the time of medical examination showed abnormal results in the bromsulphalein test mainly in cases of daily alcoholic intake of more than 66 g (3 go of sake). Histological evidence of hepatic changes was found in heavy drinkers over 35 years of age with daily alcoholic intake of more than 88 g (4 go of sake).