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Effects of Alcohol

It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption can lead to severe liver disease including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma, but the effects of alcohol on HCV and its treatment are less well studied. As described in the December 15, 2008 Journal of Infectious Diseases, E. McCartney and colleagues performed a laboratory study using cultured Huh-7 cells to examine the effects of alcohol metabolism on HCV replication and the antiviral activity of interferon. They found that exposing the cells to ethanol significantly increased HCV replication, which was dependent on oxidative stress; when the researchers added NAC to the cell cultures, ethanol no longer increased HCV replication. Furthermore, the anti-HCV activity of interferon was also reduced in the presence of ethanol. "These in vitro results mimic what is often noted clinically," the researchers concluded, supporting the recommendation that people with chronic hepatitis C should avoid alcohol or consume only small amounts.