Back to Search
Start Over
Triggering of acute alcoholic hepatitis by alpha-interferon therapy.
- Source :
-
Journal of hepatology [J Hepatol] 1999 Apr; Vol. 30 (4), pp. 722-5. - Publication Year :
- 1999
-
Abstract
- Background/aims: Alcohol may induce autoimmunity by recognition of acetaldehyde-modified proteins which may be implicated in the pathogenicity of acute alcoholic hepatitis. We report here the potential role of alpha-interferon, a potent inducer of the autoimmunity process, in inducing alcoholic hepatitis.<br />Methods: We analyzed clinical, biological, virological and histological features in two cases where alpha-interferon treatment for HCV-related hepatitis led to a marked increase in aminotransferase activities.<br />Results: alpha-interferon as treatment of HCV-related hepatitis seemed to exacerbate acute alcoholic hepatitis despite moderate alcohol consumption. In Case 1, moderate daily alcohol intake of 40 g during therapy led to biopsy-proven acute alcoholic hepatitis, while the same consumption before therapy did not. In Case 2, before treatment, the liver biopsy showed mild acute alcoholic hepatitis; aminotransferases increased during alpha-interferon therapy, although no increase in alcohol intake was observed.<br />Conclusion: alpha-interferon therapy by its immunomodulatory properties could be implicated in alteration of the course of acute alcoholic hepatitis. These observations emphasize that the decision to treat with alpha-interferon when there is even moderate alcohol consumption should be carefully weighted in HCV-infected patients.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0168-8278
- Volume :
- 30
- Issue :
- 4
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of hepatology
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 10207816
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/s0168-8278(99)80205-0