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Semin Liver Dis 2004; 24(3): 305-315
DOI: 10.1055/s-2004-832942
Copyright © 2004 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Alcohol and Hepatitis C

Kamran Safdar1 , Eugene R. Schiff1 , 2
  • 1Center for Liver Diseases, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
  • 2Professor of Medicine, Center for Liver Diseases, Division of Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida
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Publication History

Publication Date:
03 September 2004 (online)

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Alcohol abuse and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection coexist with chronic liver disease in many patients. The mechanism of injury in these patients is probably multifactorial and involves, but is not limited to, a combination of diminished immune clearance of HCV, oxidative stress, emergence of HCV quasi-species, hepatic steatosis, increased iron stores, and increased rate of hepatocyte apoptosis. In patients with HCV infection, alcohol consumption is known to cause accelerated progression of liver fibrosis, higher frequency of cirrhosis, and increased incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). These patients also have decreased survival as compared with patients with either alcohol abuse or HCV liver injury alone. Alcohol abuse causes decreased response to interferon treatment in HCV patients. It is therefore necessary for patients with HCV infection to abstain from alcohol consumption.

KEYWORDS

Alcohol - hepatitis C virus - interferon - cirrhosis - hepatocellular carcinoma

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Eugene R SchiffM.D. 

Center for Liver Diseases, University of Miami

1500 NW 12th Avenue, Suite 1101

Miami, FL 33136

Email: eschiff@med.miami.edu

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