Alcohol intake increases hepatitis C virus-induced hepatocellular injury.

To examine the effects of drinking on liver injury in anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive subjects, 3,062 HBs-negative subjects were divided into 9 groups according to anti-HCV-titer (second-generation passive hemagglutination) and alcohol intake. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) or aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels were analyzed by multiple-comparison test. In 2,826 anti-HCV-negative subjects and in 73 low titer (<2(12)) subjects (91% were HCV-RNA-negative), the mean ALT or AST of moderate drinkers (<46 g of ethanol/day) was not significantly higher than that of non-drinkers and all values were within normal limits. In 163 high-titer (> or = 2(12)) subjects (91% were HCV-RNA-positive), moderate drinkers showed significantly higher levels of mean ALT or AST than non-drinkers; 73 vs 44 IU/l or 56 vs 44 IU/l (p < 0.05). These data indicated that drinking increases hepatocellular injury in persistent HCV infection.