Home

 What is Hepatitis

 How is it Transmitted

 Long Term Prognosis

 Complications of HCV

 Liver Biopsy

 Treatment Info (Interferon, Herbal, etc)

 Lab Tests (PCR, Genotype,etc.)

 Nutrition & Alternative Info

 Patient Information (Support Groups, Doctor Listing, etc)

 Related Webpages

 Transplant Info

 Site Search

 HCV Webrings

 My guestbookbook

 Site Awards

 FAQ & Disclaimers


INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C IN HABITUAL DRINKERS

INTERFERON THERAPY FOR CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C IN HABITUAL DRINKERS - COMPARISON WITH CHRONIC HEPATITIS-C IN INFREQUENT DRINKERS

OBJECTIVE: To assess the efficacy of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C among habitual drinkers.METHODS: Ninety-five hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid-positive patientswith chronic hepatitis were treated with four standardized regiments ofinterferon. Patients were divided into four groups based on the degree of dailyalcohol consumption and duration of abstinence before treatment: 47infrequent drinkers, 12 moderate drinkers who had consumed more than23 gm but less than 69 gm of ethanol daily but stopped drinking for39 +/- 18 months before therapy, 19 heavy drinkers I who hadconsumed more than 69 gm of ethanol daily but stopped drinking for38 +/- 37 months before treatment, and 17 heavy drinkers II whoconsumed more than 69 gm ethanol daily soon before treatment.

RESULTS: The rate of responders, in whom serum ALT levels remained normal for 6 months after the end of treatment, was in a decreasing order of: infrequent drinkers (36.2%), moderate drinkers (33.3%), heavy drinkers I (26.3%), and heavy drinkers II (5.9%) (p < 0.05, infrequent drinkers vs heavy drinkers II). The negative rate of serum hepatitis C virus ribonucleic acid 6 months after the end of treatment was in a similar order (27.7%, 25.0%, 15.8%, and 0%, respectively) (p < 0.05, infrequent drinkers vs heavy drinkers II).CONCLUSION: Heavy drinking will reduce the efficacy of interferon therapy for chronic hepatitis C, and the adverse effect of drinking on efficacy might be reversed, partly, by abstinence for a long period before treatment.

Authors: OHNISHI K, SAITAMA MED SCH, DEPT MED 3,64 MOROHONGO MOROYAMA SAITAMA 35004. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY 1996. JUL;91(7):1374-1379 .


Home | What is HCV | Transmission | Future | Complications | Biopsy | Treatment | Lab | Nutrition | Patient | Links | Transplant | Webrings | guestbookbook | Awards | FAQ |