Certified Inpatient Coding (CIC) Practice Exam

In a person suffering from alcohol abuse, which molecules accumulate in the liver?

1. Water

2. Lipids

3. Protein

4. Iron

The correct answer is: Lipids

In individuals suffering from alcohol abuse, the liver frequently experiences lipid accumulation, a condition known as fatty liver disease or hepatic steatosis. This occurs because excessive alcohol consumption disrupts the normal metabolism of lipids in the liver. When alcohol is metabolized, it leads to the production of acetaldehyde and other byproducts that affect mitochondrial function, which in turn impairs the oxidation of fatty acids. Concurrently, alcohol increases the synthesis of fatty acids and triglycerides while simultaneously inhibiting their export from the liver. As a result, triglycerides build up within the liver cells, leading to an accumulation of lipids. This condition can have significant implications for liver health, potentially leading to more severe forms of liver disease such as alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis if the alcohol abuse continues. The presence of excess water, protein accumulation, or iron does not typically correlate directly with the biological processes induced by alcohol consumption in the same way that lipid accumulation does. In this context, lipid accumulation is the most relevant and accurate response to the question regarding what accumulates in the liver due to alcohol abuse.