title: Update on Alcohol and Viral Hepatitis.
abstract: Alcohol consumption is often associated with viral hepatitis. Although alcohol is known to worsen viral liver disease, the interactions between alcohol and viral hepatitis are not fully understood. Molecular alterations in the liver due to alcohol and viral hepatitis include effects on viral replication, increased oxidative stress, cytotoxicity, and a weakened immune response. Clinically, alcohol enhances disease progression and favors induction of primitive liver neoplasm. The use of new antivirals for hepatitis C and well-established drugs for hepatitis B will determine how viral hepatitis can be controlled in a large percentage of these patients. However, alcohol-related liver disease continues to represent a barrier for access to antivirals, and it remains an unresolved health issue.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria & University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gitto
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, University of Bologna and Dipartimento dell'Apparato Digerente, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vitale
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Gastroenterologia, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria & University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.
authors.forename: Erica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villa
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Scienze Mediche e Chirurgiche, University of Bologna and Dipartimento dell'Apparato Digerente, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Policlinico Sant'Orsola Malpighi, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Andreone
keywords: Alcohol; HBV; HCV