An Investigation of the Relationship of the Hepatitis Type C Virus and Alcohol in Liver Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma : Using the RT-PCR Method

Abstract

An analysis was performed of HCV antibody (C100-3, ELISA) and HCV-RNA in the sera of patients with either liver cirrhosis (LC) or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) which probably were caused by the non-A, non-B hepatitis virus (NANBV) or the consumption of alcohol. The patients were categorized in accordance with their history of alcohol consumption: moderate drinkers consuming the equivalent of more than 3 go/day of Japanese sake (containing 75.6 ml of ethanol) for more than 5 years, and heavy drinkers consuming more than 5 go/day of sake (containing 126.0 ml of ethanol) for more than 10 years. Affirmation of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) was 79.2 % for moderate drinkers and 80 % for nonalcoholics, or almost equal percentages. It therefore was presumed that LC and HCC among moderate drinkers mainly are caused by HCV. In HCV-positive cases of HCC, the time lapse between blood transfusion and the diagnosis of HCC was shorter among alcoholics. This finding suggested the probable role of alcohol as a factor in the development of HCV-positive HCC. Cases of HCV-Ab-negative and HCV-RNA-positive liver cirrhosis included many elderly persons and those with severe clinical conditions. It was suggested that there may be a reduction in HCV during the progression from LC to HCC. RNA often was positive among patients with a negative cut off index for HCV antibody when the indices were relatively high.