Clinicopathological study of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol with or without hepatitis G virus.
The concept of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol (AL-CH) has not been widely accepted, because AL-CH may be due to non-A-E hepatitis virus in heavy drinkers. Recently, hepatitis G virus (HGV) was identified as a positive-strand RNA virus related to members of the Flaviviridae family. In this study, we determined serum HGV in patients with AL-CH and analyzed the clinicopathological changes after abstinence to evaluate whether AL-CH is caused by alcohol or not. Serum samples were obtained from 16 patients with AL-CH who had neither hepatitis B nor C virus. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. In eight patients, liver biopsy was performed twice, within 3 days and 4 to 8 weeks after abstinence. The NS3 region of the HGV genome was detected using an reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. Serum levels of AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were measured once a week sequentially after admission. Serum HGV-RNA was detected in only one patient with AL-CH (6.3%). In all patients, including one patient with HGV, serum levels of AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase clearly decreased to normal levels after abstinence. Inflammatory activity in the periportal area of patients with actively drinking decreased or disappeared after abstinence for 4 to 8 weeks. These results suggest that HGV may not play an important role for development of AL-CH, and that AL-CH may be caused by alcohol itself, although a more larger number of patients with AL-CH are needed to obtain definitive conclusions.
Shimanaka
K
K
Department of Internal Medicine, Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Ishikawa, Japan.
Tsutsumi
M
M
Sawada
M
M
Tsuchishima
M
M
Urashima
S
S
Ueshima
Y
Y
Kawahara
H
H
Takase
S
S
D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood; D000431:Ethanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018067:Flaviviridae / Q000235:genetics; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000821:virology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase / Q000097:blood
D012367:RNA, Viral; D000431:Ethanol; D005723:gamma-Glutamyltransferase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase