Which sequence correctly lists the three stages of alcoholic liver disease?

• A. Steatosis, Steatonecrosis, Cirrhosis
• B. Hepatitis, Fibrosis, Cirrhosis
• C. Fatty Liver, Cholestasis, Cirrhosis
• D. Steatosis, Steatosis, Cirrhosis

Answer: (A)

Alcoholic liver disease progresses from fat accumulation in liver cells to inflammatory injury, then to scarring. The first change is steatosis, where hepatocytes store excess fat. If alcohol exposure continues, this evolves into steatonecrosis (inflammatory/necrotic injury of liver cells). Over time, repeated damage leads to fibrosis and architectural distortion culminating in cirrhosis. So the sequence Steatosis → Steatonecrosis → Cirrhosis correctly reflects the typical progression. Other options either skip the inflammatory stage, include unrelated processes like cholestasis, or repeat the same early change, which doesn’t fit the usual course.