Abstract
Chronic alcoholism in patients with chronic hepatitis C appears to cause more severe and rapidly progressive liver disease leading more frequently to cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary risk factor for acquiring hepatitis C among alcoholics is injection drug use. However, the epidemiology is not well defined, and other sources of spread must be important. Alcohol intake in excess of 10 g/d has been associated with increased serum hepatitis C vital RNA and aminotransferase levels, the mechanism of which is poorly understood. The histological picture of hepatitis C in patients with chronic alcoholism is typically indistinguishable from chronic hepatitis C in nonalcoholic patients. Interferon therapy is less effective among alcoholic than non-alcoholic patients, even after a period of abstinence. Patients with chronic hepatitis C should restrict their alcohol intake to less than 10 g/d, and if cirrhosis is present or interferon therapy is planned, abstinence from alcohol should be encouraged. Future research efforts should focus on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of combined chronic hepatitis C and alcoholism.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Hepatology |
| Volume | 26 |
| Issue number | 3 SUPPL. |
| State | Published - Sep 25 1997 |
Fingerprint
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Hepatology
Cite this
Hepatitis C and alcohol. / Schiff, Eugene R.
In: Hepatology, Vol. 26, No. 3 SUPPL., 25.09.1997.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Hepatitis C and alcohol
AU - Schiff, Eugene R
PY - 1997/9/25
Y1 - 1997/9/25
N2 - Chronic alcoholism in patients with chronic hepatitis C appears to cause more severe and rapidly progressive liver disease leading more frequently to cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary risk factor for acquiring hepatitis C among alcoholics is injection drug use. However, the epidemiology is not well defined, and other sources of spread must be important. Alcohol intake in excess of 10 g/d has been associated with increased serum hepatitis C vital RNA and aminotransferase levels, the mechanism of which is poorly understood. The histological picture of hepatitis C in patients with chronic alcoholism is typically indistinguishable from chronic hepatitis C in nonalcoholic patients. Interferon therapy is less effective among alcoholic than non-alcoholic patients, even after a period of abstinence. Patients with chronic hepatitis C should restrict their alcohol intake to less than 10 g/d, and if cirrhosis is present or interferon therapy is planned, abstinence from alcohol should be encouraged. Future research efforts should focus on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of combined chronic hepatitis C and alcoholism.
AB - Chronic alcoholism in patients with chronic hepatitis C appears to cause more severe and rapidly progressive liver disease leading more frequently to cirrhosis of the liver and hepatocellular carcinoma. The primary risk factor for acquiring hepatitis C among alcoholics is injection drug use. However, the epidemiology is not well defined, and other sources of spread must be important. Alcohol intake in excess of 10 g/d has been associated with increased serum hepatitis C vital RNA and aminotransferase levels, the mechanism of which is poorly understood. The histological picture of hepatitis C in patients with chronic alcoholism is typically indistinguishable from chronic hepatitis C in nonalcoholic patients. Interferon therapy is less effective among alcoholic than non-alcoholic patients, even after a period of abstinence. Patients with chronic hepatitis C should restrict their alcohol intake to less than 10 g/d, and if cirrhosis is present or interferon therapy is planned, abstinence from alcohol should be encouraged. Future research efforts should focus on the epidemiology and pathogenesis of combined chronic hepatitis C and alcoholism.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0030931554&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=0030931554&partnerID=8YFLogxK
M3 - Article
C2 - 9305662
AN - SCOPUS:0030931554
VL - 26
JO - Hepatology
JF - Hepatology
SN - 0270-9139
IS - 3 SUPPL.
ER -