Relationship between hepatitis C virus subtypes and clinical features of liver disease seen in alcoholics.

Abstract

The influence of hepatitis C virus and its subtypes on the clinical course of liver disease in alcoholics was assessed. Hepatitis C virus infection was confirmed by a reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction method for the hepatitis C virus NS-5 region in the sera of alcoholics with various stages of histologically proven liver disease. The frequency of hepatitis C virus was significantly higher in alcoholics with chronic hepatitis (73%) than in those with liver fibrosis (18%), alcoholic hepatitis (17%), and fatty liver (0%). Hepatitis C virus subtypes, namely K1 and K2, were determined by dot-blot hybridization analysis of the polymerase chain reaction products with specific probes, and their frequencies were 68% and 32%, respectively. The proportion of patients whose serum transaminase levels returned to normal following 4 weeks of abstinence in hospital was significantly lower in alcoholics with hepatitis C virus viremia (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 53.8%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 42.3%) than in those without viremia (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 86.2%, p < 0.01; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 89.7%, p < 0.01). When alcoholics with the K1 and K2 subtypes of hepatitis C virus were compared, normalization of transaminase levels was less frequent in alcoholics with K1 (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 42.8%; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 28.6%) than in those with K2 (glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase: 88.9%, p < 0.05; glutamic pyruvic transaminase: 77.8%, P < 0.05). These data indicate that hepatitis C virus infection is associated with a reduced rate of recovery of serum transminase levels following abstinence in subjects with alcoholic liver disease, more so in the K1 subtype than in the K2 subtype.

• Authors: H Yokoyama, H Ishii, S Moriya, S Nagata, T Watanabe, K Kamegaya, H Takahashi, K Maruyama, P Haber, M Tsuchiya
• Journal: Journal of hepatology (J Hepatol) Vol. 22 Issue 2 Pg. 130-4 (Feb 1995) ISSN: 0168-8278 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 7790700 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• RNA, Viral
• Transaminases

Topics

• Alcohol Drinking
• Hepacivirus (classification, genetics, isolation & purification)
• Humans
• Liver Diseases, Alcoholic (blood, virology)
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• RNA, Viral (analysis)
• Time Factors
• Transaminases (blood)
• Transcription, Genetic