Logo-ajcmi
Submitted: 21 Jan 2014
Revision: 08 Feb 2014
Accepted: 13 Mar 2014
ePublished: 28 Apr 2014
EndNote EndNote

(Enw Format - Win & Mac)

BibTeX BibTeX

(Bib Format - Win & Mac)

Bookends Bookends

(Ris Format - Mac only)

EasyBib EasyBib

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Medlars Medlars

(Txt Format - Win & Mac)

Mendeley Web Mendeley Web
Mendeley Mendeley

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Papers Papers

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

ProCite ProCite

(Ris Format - Win & Mac)

Reference Manager Reference Manager

(Ris Format - Win only)

Refworks Refworks

(Refworks Format - Win & Mac)

Zotero Zotero

(Ris Format - Firefox Plugin)

Avicenna J Clin Microbiol Infect. 2014;1(1): 19212.
doi: 10.17795/ajcmi-19212
  Abstract View: 869
  PDF Download: 388

Review Article

New Insights Into the Relationships Among Alcohol Consumption, Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Hepatitis C Virus Infection

Masoud Sabouri Ghannad 1, Avid Mohammadi 1, Hamid Kazemian 1*

1 Department of Microbiology, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran
*Corresponding Author: Corresponding author: Hamid Kazemian, Department of Microbiology, Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, IR Iran. Tel: +98-8118380160, Fax: +98-8118380208, Email: hamid_8321@yahoo.com

Abstract

Context: Viral hepatitis and the consumption of alcohol are recognized as important reasons for the development of liver disease throughout the world. It would also seem that chronic alcoholism causes more severe and rapid progression of liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis C, leading to more frequent liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

Evidence Acquisition: The data for this article were obtained through an initial Medline search and from the references of relevant articles, and used to provide updated information on the relationship between alcohol consumption and the hepatitis C virus.

Results: Excessive alcohol consumption among patients with chronic hepatitis C is likely to result in more severe hepatic injuries, promote pathologic progression to cirrhosis, and increase the risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. Although the exact mechanisms involved in the progression of chronic hepatitis C in alcoholic patients have not been definitely established, possible alcohol-induced enhancement of viral replication, iron overload, immunologic suppression, the role of NF-kappa B, and the signaling pathways involved in its activation, have been suggested. Significant correlations have been reported between hepatitis C virus RNA levels and the amount of alcohol consumed by an individual. Interferon therapy is less effective for alcohol patients, than non-alcoholic patients, even after a period of abstinence. The obtained data suggest that a hepatitis C virus infection is an important cofactor in the pathogenesis of liver disease among patients with an alcohol problem.

Conclusions: In light of a possible synergistic effect between alcohol and hepatitis C virus replication, total abstention ought to be recommended, and due to alcohol's inhibitory effect on interferon therapy, patients with alcohol problems should not be treated until they stop drinking.


Implication for health policy/practice/research/medical education: Chronic alcoholism in patients with chronic hepatitis C appears to cause more severe and rapidly progressive liver disease, leading more frequently to liver cirrhosis and HCC. In conclusion, patients with chronic hepatitis C should limit their alcohol intake and if cirrhosis is present or interferon therapy is planned, complete avoidance from alcohol should be encouraged. Copyright © 2014, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences; Published by Safnek. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
First Name
 
Last Name
 
Email Address
 
Comments
 
Security code


Abstract View: 870

Your browser does not support the canvas element.


PDF Download: 388

Your browser does not support the canvas element.