Does hepatitis C contribute to liver injury in alcohol abusers in the west of Scotland?
OBJECTIVE
To test the hypothesis that many patients with alcoholic liver disease have coexisting hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection which promotes the development of cirrhosis.


METHODS
Prospective, two-centre study comparing patients with alcoholic liver disease with HCV-positive blood donors identified by the Regional Blood Transfusion Service.


METHODS
Two teaching hospitals in Glasgow, UK.


METHODS
Sixty patients admitted to hospital with a diagnosis of alcoholic liver disease on the basis of clinical and histological tests. For comparison, a group of 50 anti-HCV-positive subjects identified from 305,012 blood donors during the same period (1991-1993) were questioned about their alcohol consumption and liver biopsy specimens are taken.


METHODS
The prevalence of HCV infection was determined by a second generation enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-HCV and by liver histology.


RESULTS
No patients with alcoholic liver disease were anti-HCV-positive. Of the blood donors with chronic HCV infection, 11 (22%) reported previous or continuing consumption of more than 80 g alcohol daily for at least 2 consecutive years but liver histology in all 50 cases showed features characteristic of chronic HCV. There was no difference in liver histology between donors with a history of high alcohol consumption [mean grade 2.6 (range, 1-5), stage 0.4 (range, 0-2)] and abstinent, anti-HCV-positive donors [grade 2.8 (0-5), stage 0.5 (range 0-1)].


CONCLUSIONS
The absence of anti-HCV in this population of patients with alcoholic liver disease shows that HCV is not a necessary or a common cofactor in the development of alcoholic liver disease in the west of Scotland.
Bird
G L
GL
Department of Gastroenterology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Tibbs
C J
CJ
Orton
D
D
Hillan
K J
KJ
MacSween
R N
RN
Williams
R
R
Mills
P R
PR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology; D008108:Liver Diseases, Alcoholic / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies