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Synergism of chronic alcoholism and hepatitis B infection in liver disease
Author(s) -
CHUNG HAUTIM,
LAI CHINGLUNG,
WU PUICHEE,
LOK ANNA S. F.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.1989.tb00801.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , hbsag , gastroenterology , hepatic encephalopathy , alcoholic liver disease , chronic liver disease , alcoholic hepatitis , encephalopathy , liver biopsy , prothrombin time , hepatitis b , hepatitis , liver disease , hepatitis b virus , immunology , biopsy , virus
Abstrat One hundred and fifty‐seven patients with alcoholic liver disease were studied. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was positive in 20.4% of the patients. Those who were positive for the HBsAg presented at an earlier age, had a lower albumin level, a higher globulin level, a more prolonged prothrombin time, were more likely to have features of cirrhosis in the liver biopsy, and were probably more likely to suffer from hepatic encephalopathy in the follow‐up compared with those negative for HBsAg. The mortality of subjects was low both on admission and during follow‐up. It is concluded that chronic alcoholism and hepatitis B virus infection act synergistically in producing more severe liver damage and causing cirrhosis at a younger age compared with chronic alcoholism alone. One possible reason for the low mortality of the patients might have been their relatively good nutritional status.