Liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are commonly encountered diseases in developing countries.

Guan et al enroled 1095 decompensated hepatic cirrhotic patients admitted to a hospital from September 2014 to August 2019 in this study. The components of cirrhotic etiology were described and the impact of alcohol consumption on the incidence of HCC in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis and hepatitis C cirrhosis was assessed.

The constituent ratios of hepatitis B cirrhosis and alcohol cirrhosis were 31.32% and 30.32%, respectively among the enroled cirrhotic patients. The incidence of HCC was found to be higher in patients with hepatitis cirrhosis compared to those with alcoholic cirrhosis (24.2% in hepatitis B, 17.5% in hepatitis C and 3.92% in alcoholic). Additionally, HCC incidence in patients with concomitant hepatitis B virus (HBV) and alcohol consumption was found to be higher than that in patients with HBV alone (33.70% vs. 20.72%).

To conclude, alcohol consumption tends to heighten the incidence of HCC in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis but not in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis.

Source: Guan X, Xing F, Li Y. Alcohol consumption increases the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis B cirrhosis but not in patients with hepatitis C cirrhosis. Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Jul 8. doi: 10.1097/MEG.0000000000001837.