title: Effect of alcohol consumption on serum hepatitis C virus RNA and histological lesions in chronic hepatitis C.
abstract: The role of alcohol intake in the occurrence of severe liver disease in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) carriers is still debated. A cross-sectional study has been conducted in 233 chronic hepatitis C virus carriers. Weekly self-reported alcohol consumption (SRAC) was evaluated, serum HCV RNA levels were measured by a branched DNA technique (Quantiplex 2.0) and HCV genotypes were determined. A liver biopsy was performed simultaneously and liver lesions were graded with the Knodell histological activity index. Data were examined by uni- and multivariate analyses. Alcohol consumption was relatively low (< 140 g/per week in 193/233 patients [80%]). We found a highly significant correlation between SRAC and serum HCV RNA levels (r = .26, P = .001). Fibrosis was significantly correlated with age and alcohol consumption. These results suggest that in HCV carriers, alcohol consumption, even with low alcohol intake, increases viremia and hepatic fibrosis. Chronic HCV carriers should be advised to avoid regular alcohol intake.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Hepatologie, Unité de Recherches de Physiopathologie Hépatique (INSERM U24), Hôpital Beaujon, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Clichy, France.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pessione
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Degos
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marcellin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Duchatelle
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Njapoum
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Martinot-Peignoux
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Degott
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valla
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Erlinger
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rueff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology* / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012367:RNA, Viral