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Title

Hepatitis C and alcohol, which is the limit?

Publication type

Journal Article

Year of Publication

2003

Authors

Lampo, N., Malinverni, R.

Journal

Revue medicale de la Suisse romande

Volume

123

Issue

Pagination

241 - 243

Date published

2003

ISBN

00353655 (ISSN)

Keywords

Alcoholism, alpha2a interferon, Antiviral Agents, antivirus agent, drug contraindication, hepatitis C, human, Humans, Interferon Alfa-2a, Liver Cirrhosis, macrogol derivative, peginterferon alfa-2a, peginterferon alpha2a, Polyethylene Glycols, review, risk factor, Risk Factors

Abstract

Chronic hepatitis C leads to cirrhosis in 20 to 30%. Hepatocellular carcinoma can develop in 1 to 5%. This natural course is modified by several factors including age, sex and alcohol. This last one is an important risk factor for fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Data about high alcohol consumption show an increased risk whereas the risk associated with light to moderate consumption of alcohol remains unclear. Treatment of chronic hepatitis C with pegylated interferon and ribavirine allows a viral response in 50 to 80%. Factors decreasing this response rate are high viremia, genotype 1 and 4, sex and alcohol. Again, at which limit alcohol consumption is becoming deleterious is not well known. According to epidemiological studies alcohol consumption higher than 40 to 50 g/day should be avoided and a 6 months abstinence period before antiviral therapy should be recommended. Is this enough? More studies are needed to answer these questions.

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