Biomarker and Genomic Risk Factors for Liver Function Test Abnormality in Hazardous Drinkers

Background Alcohol dependence and long‐term excessive alcohol use may cause liver damage, but only some patients develop cirrhosis. Similarly, high alcohol intake without evident liver disease often but not always produces abnormal enzymatic liver function tests (LFTs), particularly gamma‐glutamyl transferase ( GGT ). We postulate that the factors predisposing to cirrhosis in alcoholics and to liver enzyme abnormality in drinkers are similar,...