Clinicopathological study of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol with or without hepatitis G virus

Citation
K. Shimanaka et al., Clinicopathological study of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol with or without hepatitis G virus, ALC CLIN EX, 23(4), 1999, pp. 29S-32S
Citations number
15
Categorie Soggetti
Clinical Psycology & Psychiatry","Neurosciences & Behavoir
Journal title
ALCOHOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH
ISSN journal
01456008 → ACNP
Volume
23
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Supplement
S
Pages
29S - 32S
Database
ISI
SICI code
0145-6008(199904)23:4<29S:CSOCHI>2.0.ZU;2-E
Abstract
The concept of chronic hepatitis induced by alcohol (AL-CH) has not been wi dely 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-s trand RNA virus related to members of the Flaviviridae family. In this stud y, we determined serum HGV in patients with AL-CH and analyzed the clinicop athological changes after abstinence to evaluate whether AL-CH is caused by alcohol or not. Serum samples were obtained from 16 patients with AL-CH wh o had neither hepatitis B nor C virus. The diagnosis was confirmed histolog ically. 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 det ected using an reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction method. Seru m levels of AST, ALT and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase were measured once a week sequentially after admission. Serum HGV-RNA was detected in only one p atient with ALCH (6.3%). In all patients, including one patient with HGV, s erum 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 abst inence for 4 to 8 weeks. These results suggest that HGV may not play an imp ortant role for development of AL-CH, and that AL-CH may be caused by alcoh ol itself, although a more larger number of patients with ALCH are needed t o obtain definitive conclusions.