Prognosis of Alcoholic Hepatitis The long-term prognosis for untreated alcoholic hepatitis is quite severe. But with proper treatment and an end to alcohol consumption, most people can recover well. If a chronic alcoholic hepatitis patient continues to drink, he or she will inevitably develop cirrhosis and lead to liver failure. The death rate is approximately 50% within seven years. Encephaylopathy, ascites, prolonged PT, PTT, and kidney failure are the promoting factors to the liver failure. Occasionally, death can be caused by shock induced by fat thrombosis in the lung, very low blood sugar level, or acute pancreatitis. Therefore, stopping alcohol consumption is extremely important and can be a potentially life-saving decision on the part of the patient.