Study of Genetic Determinants in Alcoholic Hepatitis and Establishment of a Multicenter Prospective Cohort of Patients With Alcoholic Liver Disease

To be considered for this study, you would generally need to have a history of regularly drinking a certain amount of alcohol over several years. Specifically, this means more than 40 grams of alcohol per day for women and more than 50 grams per day for men, for over five years.

If you have severe alcoholic hepatitis, you would also need to have experienced jaundice recently (within the last three months) and have a certain level of bilirubin (a substance measured in your blood). If you have less severe alcoholic hepatitis, the main requirements are the drinking history mentioned above.

People with severe liver scarring (cirrhosis) caused by alcohol are also included if they meet the alcohol consumption criteria and show clear signs of cirrhosis through examinations, scans, or blood tests. However, you cannot join the study if you have other liver diseases (like viral hepatitis or Wilson's disease), liver cancer, or HIV.

This study is observational, which means you won't be given any new medications or treatments as part of it. Instead, the researchers will collect information and samples from you. This will involve assessing your survival and how well your liver is functioning. They will also collect blood samples to create a biobank, which is like a library of genetic material. The study will involve regular follow-up to track your health progress, and while the exact duration isn't specified, observational studies often involve checking in over several months or years. The researchers will also look at how well non-invasive tests can diagnose your condition.