ABSTRACT
Genetic and Hereditary Factors The interindividual variability in the correlation between alcohol consumption and development of liver disease highlights the role of genetic factors that may predispose a person to alcoholinduced liver toxicity. Specific genetic polymorphisms have been detected in patients who have alcoholic liver disease, most notably mutations in the tumor necrosis factor promoter and in alcohol-metabolizing enzyme systems. In addition to the genetic factors predisposing certain alcoholic persons to liver disease, there also is strong evidence that genetic factors predispose persons to alcoholism.
