A single alcohol ingestion does not affect serum hepatitis C virus RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
OBJECTIVE
The safe level of alcohol ingestion in sporadic drinkers with hepatitis C is unknown. Our aim was to evaluate the effect of a single moderate alcohol intake on serum HCV RNA concentrations and hepatic function in patients with chronic HCV infection.


METHODS
Twenty-one patients with chronic hepatitis C were randomly assigned to consume 50 g alcohol (group 1) or a non-alcoholic beverage (group 2). In both groups, serum ethanol, serum HCV RNA, transaminase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GT) levels were measured just before alcohol intake and after 1, 2, 8, 24 h and 1 week's time.


RESULTS
The maximum concentration of ethanol in the blood was observed at the first hour after alcohol intake. No significant changes were observed in serum HCV RNA after alcohol intake. Repeated measurements of HCV RNA among the two groups revealed no difference (P = 0.215). Similarly, no difference was observed in transaminase and gamma-GT levels at different time points in each group or among the groups [(ALT (P = 0.082), AST (P = 0.33), gamma-GT (P = 0.538)].


CONCLUSIONS
In patients with chronic hepatitis C, a single intake of 50 g alcohol does not affect liver biochemistry and HCV RNA concentrations. Therefore, it is a matter of further research whether sporadic drinking of light or moderate amounts of alcohol should be avoided in patients with chronic hepatitis C.
Manolakopoulos
Spilios
S
Department of Gastroenterology, Polyclinic General Hospital, Athens, Greece. spilios1@otenet.gr
Economou
Michalis
M
Bethanis
Sotirios
S
Mathou
Nicoletta
N
Triantos
Christos
C
Vlachogiannakos
Jiannis
J
Vogiatzakis
Evangelos
E
Avgerinos
Alec
A
Tzourmakliotis
Dimitrios
D
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000431:Ethanol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000187:drug effects*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood*
D012367:RNA, Viral; D000431:Ethanol