ALBANY, N.Y., Jan. 11 (UPI) -- Researchers say that alcohol promotes the progression of hepatitis C virus, or HCV, in human liver cells.
"Alcoholics can get liver disease from alcohol and they can also have HCV, which can progress the virus more quickly to cirrhosis," Dr. Donald Jensen, director of the Center for Liver Diseases at the University of Chicago Hospital, told United Press International's Caregiving.
"Those with HCV can -- with as little as two drinks a day -- hasten the progression of the virus, as well as someone who drinks heavily," Jensen said.
Someone with HCV has a greater chance of liver disease, although about 40 percent never develop cirrhosis, according to Jensen.
Just testing positive for HCV does not automatically mean that those infected need treatment; it's recommended they consult a liver specialist to develop a strategy for treatment.
"Treatments are getting better, so those who suspect they may have a risk factor for HCV should get tested because there is an overall eradication rate of 55 percent and higher for some strains."
If drug therapy, such as interferon monotherapy, standard interferon plus ribavirin and pegylated interferon plus ribavirin, is given soon enough, liver damage can be averted. But if there is a delay, the patients may end up having to get a liver transplant.
Currently, more than 17,000 people in the United States are waiting for liver transplants, due to a shortage of donor organs. The vast majority of those with HCV are baby boomers, and so a liver donor transplant crisis is looming, Jensen said.
HCV is one of the leading known causes of liver disease in the United States, with approximately 4 million people infected. HCV is a major cause of cirrhosis and liver cancer, as well as the most common reason for liver transplantation.
Cirrhosis is the result of chronic liver disease that causes scarring of the liver and liver dysfunction. This often has many complications, including accumulation of fluid in the abdomen, bleeding disorders, increased pressure in the blood vessels of the liver and confusion or change in a person's consciousness.
Habitual alcohol drinkers have higher blood levels of HCV compared to infrequent drinkers, even when both are infected with the virus. But a study at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia investigated how alcohol affects HCV at the cellular level.
"Our study provides a biological mechanism to support clinical observations," said Dr. Wen-Zhe Ho, the director of retroviral research at the hospital.
The researchers found alcohol increases the activity of the protein nuclear factor kappa B and causes HCV to replicate. That protein is an important cellular regulator of gene products involved in inflammation. Furthermore, the researchers found that alcohol interferes with the anti-viral activity of interferon-alpha, a key therapy used for patients infected with HCV.
The researchers also found that naltrexone, a drug used to help patients with alcoholism avoid relapse, may also block the deleterious effects of alcohol in promoting HCV.
Some readers have asked: Since drugs -- illegal, prescription and over-the-counter can all affect the liver, does taking drugs affect HCV?
"There is less evidence about specific medications. Certainly a drug may have the protein. It's not straightforward, but alcohol is pretty clearly shown to hasten the progression of the illness," Jensen said.
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Alex Cukan is an award-winning journalist, but she always has considered caregiving her real work. UPI welcomes comments and questions about this column. E-mail: [email protected]
