Drinking habits of subjects with hepatitis C virus-related chronic liver disease: Prevalence and effect on clinical, virological and pathological aspects

Alcohol changes the progression of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related chronic liver disease and may affect the outcome of interferon therapy. The ethanol intake of 245 patients with biopsy-proven chronic hepatitis C with or with out cirrhosis, its interaction with laboratory and histological parameters common to alcohol and HCV-mediated liver damage, and its effects on therapy were evaluated. The results show that 60-70% of subjects regularly consume d alcohol (median intake >40 g/day in about 30%). Less than 50% slopped dri nking after being diagnosed as having liver disease. Ethanol intake affecte d: fibrosis, especially in women, HCV RNA levels, which were significantly lower in abstainers than in drinkers (0.6 +/- 0.3 vs 6.9 +/- 5.9 Eq/ml x 10 (6); P < 0.01), and response to interferon therapy. The number of responder s decreased as ethanol intake increased. There were less abstainers than dr inkers among non-responders (10.7% vs 63.1% respectively; P < 0.001). Data indicate that alcohol will induce and worsen liver damage and, in subjects with chronic liver disease who continue to drink, adversely affect their re sponse to treatment.