Machine Learning Can Help Diagnose Alcohol-Associated Hepatitis from Other Conditions

Acute cholangitis is a potentially life-threatening bacterial infection that often is associated with gallstones. Symptoms include fever, jaundice, right upper quadrant pain, and elevated liver enzymes. While these may seem like distinctive, telltale symptoms, they are similar to those of a much different condition: alcohol-associated hepatitis. This challenges emergency department staff and other health care professionals who need to diagnose and treat patients with liver enzyme abnormalities and systemic inflammatory responses. New Mayo Clinic research finds that machine-learning algorithms can help health care staff distinguish the two conditions.