Does alpha1-antitrypsin phenotype PiMZ increase the risk of fibrosis in liver disease due to hepatitis C virus infection?
BACKGROUND
The factors influencing the development of hepatic fibrosis, a key factor in determining outcome, are incompletely understood in hepatitis C. It has been suggested that the heterozygous Z mutation of the alpha1-antitrypsin gene (PiMZ) predisposes to more severe liver damage when infected by the hepatitis C virus. This retrospective cross-sectional study was designed to compare the prevalence of PiMZ in hepatitis C patients with different degrees of fibrosis.


METHODS
One hundred and forty-one patients from the Trent Hepatitis C Study Group's database were selected for study. Forty-six had no fibrosis on liver biopsy, 53 had cirrhosis and 42 had intermediate fibrosis. The alpha1-antitrypsin phenotype was determined by isoelectric focusing.


RESULTS
There was no significant difference between the prevalence of PiMZ in the three groups--there was just one patient in each group. Comparing those with no fibrosis with those with cirrhosis, the odds ratio was 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.05-14).


CONCLUSIONS
Our results do not support the hypothesis that the presence of the PiMZ phenotype predisposes to more severe fibrosis in patients with hepatitis C.
Scott
Brian B
BB
Department of Medicine, Lincoln County Hospital, Lincoln, UK. Brian.Scott@ulh.nhs.uk
Egner
William
W
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation; D010641:Phenotype; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics*
D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin