title: Synergism of chronic alcoholism and hepatitis B infection in liver disease.
abstract: One hundred and fifty-seven patients with alcoholic liver disease were studied. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in 20.4% of the patients. Those who were positive for the HBsAg presented at an earlier age, had a lower albumin level, a higher globulin level, a more prolonged prothrombin time, were more likely to have features of cirrhosis in the liver biopsy, and were probably more likely to suffer from hepatic encephalopathy in the follow-up compared with those negative for HBsAg. The mortality of subjects was low both on admission and during follow-up. It is concluded that chronic alcoholism and hepatitis B virus infection act synergistically in producing more severe liver damage and causing cirrhosis at a younger age compared with chronic alcoholism alone. One possible reason for the low mortality of the patients might have been their relatively good nutritional status.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Lok
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens