Chronic hepatitis C and alcohol are the two common causes of liver diseases worldwide. There is good evidence that they work together to speed up the progression of chronic liver disease. It is reported that the prevalence of hepatitis C is higher in alcoholics than in general population. The reason for this higher prevalence is not completely understood.
Several studies have observed that heavy alcohol use in patients with hepatitis C:
- decreases the efficacy of treatment of hepatitis C
- increases the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, i.e. liver cancer
- increases the rate of deaths
Microscopic picture of a liver infected by hepatitis C viruses
A safe amount of alcohol consumption in patients with hepatitis C is not known. Therefore, those who are inflicted with hepatitis C should completely abstain from alcohol.
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