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The relationships of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis to alcohol intake, hepatitis B and C, and delta virus infection: a case-control study in Albania

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 October 1998

L. A. KONDILI
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Virologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma Departamenti i semundjeve te brendeshme, QSUT, Tirana
M. E. TOSTI
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299–00161 Roma, Italia
M. SZKLO
Affiliation:
School of Hygiene and Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore
A. COSTANTINO
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Virologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
R. COTICHINI
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299–00161 Roma, Italia
B. RESULI
Affiliation:
Departamenti i semundjeve te brendeshme, QSUT, Tirana
M. RAPICETTA
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Virologia, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma
A. MELE
Affiliation:
Laboratorio di Epidemiologia e Biostatistica, Istituto Superiore di Sanità Viale Regina Elena, 299–00161 Roma, Italia
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Abstract

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The present study examined the effect of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alcohol intake, and the role of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the aetiology of chronic liver disease in Albania. A total of 106 cases of liver cirrhosis or chronic hepatitis were compared to 195 control patients without these or other liver diseases. Adjusted odds ratios were 52·7 (95% CI 22·7–122) for HBV surface antigen, 26·9 (95% CI 4·9–147) for anti-HCV, 26·2 (95% CI 3·1–221) for anti-HDV, 2.4 (95% CI 1·3–4·4) for lifetime alcohol intake and 2·3 (95% CI 1–5·5) for duration of alcohol intake. Although not significant, an interaction was suggested between HBsAg and anti-HCV and between HBsAg and alcohol intake. Our study underlines the role of hepatitis viruses in the development of chronic liver diseases. Additionally, it suggests that heavy alcohol intake may magnify the effect of HBV on these diseases. HBV vaccination and alcohol abstention appear to be important strategies to reduce the risk of liver cirrhosis and chronic hepatitis in Albania.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
© 1998 Cambridge University Press