High prevalence of viral infection in adults with homozygous and heterozygous alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and chronic liver disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of chronic liver disease in adults with homozygous (Pi ZZ) and heterozygous (Pi Z) alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency and to assess the presence of other possible risk factors for the development of chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver in these patients.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
A referral-based university hospital.


METHODS
Consecutive patients (164) with the Pi ZZ and Pi Z phenotype with and without chronic liver disease.


METHODS
The presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was determined using an assay incorporating synthetic peptide antigen from capsid protein (United Biomedical [UBI] assay) and a second-generation enzyme immunoassay (Abbott test); the presence of antibody to hepatitis B virus (anti-HBV) was determined using radioimmunoassays incorporating hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBcAg); assays for antinuclear antibody and antimitochondrial antibody (M2 subtype) were also done, and alcohol abuse was assessed by history.


RESULTS
Among patients with cirrhosis (32%), 62% were anti-HCV positive by the Abbott test (P = 0.006), and 41% were anti-HCV positive by the UBI assay (P = 0.007). Thirty-three percent of patients with cirrhosis had hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (P = 0.01); 41% had a history of alcoholism; and 12% had features of autoimmune liver disease. Only five patients (9%) with cirrhosis had no other risk factor for chronic liver disease. Among patients with chronic active hepatitis (7%), 80% were anti-HCV positive by the Abbott test (P = 0.002), and 75% were anti-HCV positive by the UBI assay (P less than 0.001). Thirty percent of patients with chronic active hepatitis had HBV infection (P = 0.023); 18% had autoimmune hepatitis; and 8% abused alcohol. Only two patients (17%) had no additional risk factor for the development of chronic active hepatitis. Among patients with steatosis of the liver (48%), 5% were anti-HCV positive by the Abbott test, and none were anti-HCV positive by the UBI assay; 18% had serologic evidence of past HBV infection, and 28% abused alcohol. Among patients without chronic liver disease (13%), no viral infection could be found; 9% were alcoholics.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic liver disease in patients with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency is associated with a high prevalence of viral infection; this infection, rather than alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency alone, may be the cause of the liver disease in such patients.
Propst
T
T
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Innsbruck, Austria.
Propst
A
A
Dietze
O
O
Judmaier
G
G
Braunsteiner
H
H
Vogel
W
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics; D019896:alpha 1-Antitrypsin Deficiency
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin