Search resultsAlcohol intake increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus-related compensated cirrhosis: a prospective study.
Whether alcohol intake increases the risk of complications in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis remains unclear.
AIM: To determine the impact of alcohol intake and viral eradication on the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), decompensation of cirrhosis and death.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data on alcohol intake and viral eradication were prospectively collected in 192 patients with compensated HCV-related cirrhosis.
RESULTS: 74 patients consumed alcohol (median alcohol intake: 15 g/day); 68 reached viral eradication. During a median follow-up of 58 months, 33 patients developed HCC, 53 experienced at least one decompensation event, and 39 died. The 5-year cumulative incidence rate of HCC was 10.6% (95% CI: 4.6-16.6) in abstainers vs. 23.8% (95% CI: 13.5-34.1) in consumers (p=0.087), and 2.0% (95% CI: 0-5.8) vs. 21.7% (95% CI: 14.2-29.2) in patients with and without viral eradication (p=0.002), respectively. The lowest risk of HCC was observed for patients without alcohol intake and with viral eradication (0%) followed by patients with alcohol intake and viral eradication (6.2% [95% CI: 0-18.4]), patients without alcohol intake and no viral eradication (15.9% [95% CI: 7.1-24.7]), and patients with alcohol intake and no viral eradication (29.2% [95% CI: 16.5-41.9]) (p=0.009). In multivariate analysis, lack of viral eradication and alcohol consumption were associated with the risk of HCC (hazard ratio for alcohol consumption: 3.43, 95% CI: 1.49-7.92, p=0.004). Alcohol intake did not influence the risk of decompensation or death.
CONCLUSION: Light-to-moderate alcohol intake increases the risk of HCC in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Patient care should include measures to ensure abstinence.