Best Doctors in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
- Interventional Cardiologist, Chennai, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Sai Satish is an internationally celebrated young cardiologist from Tamil Nadu with expertise in the management of heart-related problems.
- With 15+ years of experience, he assisted patients with symptomatic Aortic stenosis, blood vessel blockages, and heart failure.
- He started a series of structural heart programs for those who are executing structural heart therapies and need to advance them with the best practices. The summit drew over 300 heart surgeons and 350 cardiologists.
- Liver Transplant Surgeon and HPB Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 15 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Selvakumar Naganathan is one of the best liver transplant surgeons in India with nearly 15 years of experience.
- He has carried out more than 2000 procedures, including 300 donor & 500 recipient hepatectomies, cadaver transplantations, retrieval of cadaver livers, and live donor liver transplants.
- He also established many liver transplantation centers across India & other countries.
- Urologist, Chennai, India
- Over 21 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Nitesh Jain is an experienced urologist in Tamil Nadu, having managed complex urological diseases.
- Dr. Nitesh has grabbed a gold medal in Surgery during MBBS and M.Ch Urology.
- Dr. Nitesh Jain also got training in robotic surgery from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, USA.
- Hematologist, Chennai, India
- Over 29 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Prabu P is one of the top hematologists in Tamil Nadu with an experience of more than 15+ years in the field.
- He gained most of his experience working in the United Kingdom and now practices at Apollo Hospital, Chennai.
- Dr. Prabu acquired experience in general and malignant pediatric hematology while working in the pediatric hematology unit of St James University Hospital, Leeds.
- General Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 26 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Prithviraj T is one of the best general surgeons in Chennai, having an experience of more than 26 years of practicing in the UK and India.
- Dr. Prithviraj T is awarded the Dr. Edmund Lerede Chalke Memorial prize and Dr.C. Raghavachari Award for his contribution to the field of surgery.
- Patients visit him for surgical and non-surgical treatment for various conditions like Rhinoplasty, Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Piles Treatment, Vaser Liposuction, pleomorphic adenoma, Endoscopy, Non-Surgical Fat Loss, etc.
- General Surgeon and Surgical Gastroenterologist, Chennai, India
- Over 27 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Raghunath K J is a well-known name in the field of general surgery with an experience of more than 27 years.
- He went under training in advanced Laparoscopic surgery from Canada and France.
- Dr. Raghunath pioneers many prestigious projects in the UK.
- Dr. Raghunath has a specialized interest in Gall Bladder Stone treatment, Hernia, GI Cancer Surgery, Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Endoscopic Surgery, etc.
- General Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 45 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Ramamoorthy N is one of the senior General surgeons in Tamil Nadu with an experience of more than 45 years.
- He provides consultation and services at Apollo Hospital, Greams Road, Chennai.
- Dr. Ramamoorthy provides surgical treatment for vivid disorders which include Laparoscopic Sleeve Resection, Colonoscopy, Endoscopic Surgery, Tonsillitis Treatment, and Gall Bladder (Biliary) Stone Treatment.
- Interventional Cardiologist, Chennai, India
- Over 31 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. G Sengottuvelu is an accomplished Interventional Cardiologist in Chennai.
- He is an expert at managing complex PCI & stenting surgeries and structural heart interventions, including percutaneous heart valve replacement & repair (TAVI / TAVR, mitral clip, etc.).
- Dr. Sengottuvelu carried out around 20000 procedures in his 25 years career. He was a pioneer of the transcatheter valve program in the Apollo Group of Hospitals in 2015, performing the first TAVR.
- Hematologist, Chennai, India
- Over 25 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Srikanth M is one of the top Hematologists in Chennai with an experience of 25 years in the field.
- He assists patients with an accurate diagnosis, consultation, and treatment for Hemophilia, Leukemia, Myeloma, Thalassemia, Lymphoma, and other blood diseases. The doctor also offers Bone Marrow Transplant and Chelation Therapy, etc.
- Dr. Srikanth M has completed MRCP from the Royal College of Physicians, London to enhance his skills and received a fellowship from Royal Marsden Hospital.
- ENT Surgeon, Chennai, India
- Over 24 years’ experience
Profile Highlights:
- Dr. Venkata Karthikeyan is one of the top ENT specialists in Chennai, having an experience of more than 19 years in the field.
- Dr. Karthikeyan has expertise in treatments such as Laser Surgeries for Head and Neck Lesions, Head and Neck Cancer, Nasal Endoscopy, Cochlear Implants, Skull Base Surgery, Trans Oral Robotic Surgery, Trans Oral Laser Surgery, Neurotology and Skull base surgery, and Transoral Laser Surgery, etc.
- He has published research papers in reputed national and international peer-reviewed journals.
Best Hospitals in India for Alcoholic Hepatitis Treatment
ALCOHOLIC HEPATITIS
Alcoholic hepatitis is a liver infection, which is mainly caused by frequent, heavy use of alcohol. Fat can build up in the liver cells, which might lead to inflammation as well as scarring of the liver.
Alcoholic hepatitis might be mild or severe. A patient might even need a liver transplant if proper treatment is not provided, or if they don’t stop consumption of alcohol.
It is also notable that all heavy drinkers don’t develop this condition, and sometimes this condition even develops in people who drink moderately. However, if you are diagnosed with this condition, it is important for you to quit drinking alcohol. People who continue drinking alcohol might face a huge risk of serious liver damage as well as death.
Symptoms
Depending on the amount of damage to the liver, the symptoms can vary. If you are having a mild form of the disease, you might not even experience any symptoms at all. However, as the damage continues to grow, you might experience the following:
- Changes in appetite
- Dry mouth
- Weight loss
- Pain or swelling in the abdomen
- Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin or eyes
- Fever
- Nausea and vomiting
- Easy bleeding or bruising
- Changes in your mental state, including confusion
- Fatigue
The symptoms of this condition are similar to those caused by a few other health conditions. Therefore, if you develop any of these symptoms, it is best to get a proper diagnosis as well as begin treatment.
Causes & risk factors
Alcoholic hepatitis generally develops when the alcohol you drink causes damage to your liver. However, it is not clear why alcohol does this damages only to some heavy drinkers.
Few factors that are known to play a role in this condition include:
- The body’s process that breaks down alcohol produces some toxic chemicals
- These chemicals can trigger inflammation that can destroy the liver cells
- Thus, over time, scars replace healthy liver tissue, thus interfering with the function of the liver
- This irreversible scarring, which is also termed cirrhosis, is the final stage of alcoholic liver disease
If you have hepatitis C and continue to drink, even moderately, you are more likely to develop cirrhosis.
Some heavy drinkers are also malnourished because they don’t eat a proper balanced diet. Alcohol and its byproducts also prevent the body from absorbing nutrition properly. Lack of nutrition can contribute to liver cell damage.
Some other risk factors that can lead to this condition include:
- Your sex- Women are usually at a higher risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis since the way alcohol is processed in women is different.
- Binge drinking- Having over five drinks within two hours for men and four or more for women can increase the risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Obesity- Heavy drinkers who are overweight are also more likely to develop alcoholic hepatitis and to progress from that condition to cirrhosis.
- Race and ethnicity- Hispanic and Negroid people might be at higher risk of alcoholic hepatitis.
- Genetic factors- According to studies, there may be a genetic component in alcohol-induced liver disease. However, it is difficult to separate genetic and environmental factors.
Diagnosis
If you are showing symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis, your doctor will first inquire about your medical history and alcohol consumption. Next, he/she will perform a physical exam to see if you have an enlarged liver or spleen. They might also need a few more tests to confirm your diagnosis, such as:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Liver function test
- Ultrasound of the liver
- Abdominal CT scan
- Blood clotting tests
In some cases, a liver biopsy might also be needed to confirm the diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis. A liver biopsy requires your doctor to remove a tissue sample from your liver, which is then tested in the lab. This method helps to show the severity and type of liver disease.
Treatment
Stopping alcohol consumption is the most important treatment for alcoholic hepatitis. There is no cure for this condition, but treatment can help in reducing or eliminating symptoms, or stopping its progression.
It is also important to note that scarring of the liver is permanent, but treatment can aim to restore as much function as possible.
Dietary changes
Your doctor might also recommend dietary changes, vitamin supplements, or a focused diet plan to correct the imbalance of nutrients in the body.
Medication
Doctors might also prescribe medicines to prevent inflammation of the liver.
Liver transplant
In severe cases, the only chance for survival may be a liver transplant. Unfortunately, in such cases, the process of finding a donor can be long and complicated.
The best hope of recovery is to be aware of the signs and symptoms as well as to reduce, manage, or if possible, completely stop consumption of alcohol.
Complications
Alcoholic hepatitis might lead to severe other complications such as:
- Enlarged veins (varices)- In this condition, blood that is unable to flow freely through the portal vein, can back up into other blood vessels in your esophagus or stomach.
- Hepatic encephalopathy- This condition can be caused by the buildup of toxins if your damaged liver is unable to remove all the toxins from your body. It involves confusion, drowsiness, and slurred speech.
- Ascites- Ascites is a condition in which the fluid that accumulates in the abdomen may get infected and thus, require treatment with antibiotics. Although this condition is not life-threatening, it can be a sign of advanced alcoholic hepatitis, or cirrhosis.
- Kidney failure- A damaged liver affects blood flow to the kidneys, thus resulting in kidney failure.
- Cirrhosis- The scarring of the liver might lead to liver failure.
Prevention
Alcoholic hepatitis might be prevented if you take the following steps:
- Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all- For healthy adults, moderate drinking means no more than one drink a day for women of all ages and men older than 65, and not over two drinks a day for men aged 65 and younger. However, if you prevent all alcohol, it is a certain way to prevent this condition.
- Check before mixing medications and alcohol- Ask your doctor if it’s safe to drink alcohol while you are taking medications. Consider reading the warning labels on over-the-counter medications as well. Don’t drink alcohol when you are taking medications that warn of complications when combined with alcohol.
- Protect yourself from hepatitis C- Hepatitis C is an infectious liver disease that is caused by a virus. If it is left untreated, it may lead to cirrhosis. If you are having hepatitis C and you consume alcohol, you’re generally more likely to develop cirrhosis than if you don’t drink.