[Hepatitis C and alcohol: notes for consensus]

Alcohol abuse is accompanied by a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, which arise in the Great La Plata up to 20%. This condition worsen the histological necro-inflamatory activity of HCV chronic hepatitis patients, accelerating the evolution to liver cirrhosis, to cirrhosis decompensation, and surely facilitating the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. Besides of that, active alcohol abuse implies severe decrease in therapeutic response and yet more, a real contraindication for IFN mono-drug or combined treatment. All of that remarks the need for a correct investigation of alcohol consumption in HCV infected patients through a careful clinical examination, routine use of biological markers and incorporation of specialized systematic questionnaires, submitting the patient as early as possible to a special treatment (mental health team, self-help groups, naltrexone or similar trials). Alcohol abuse suppression is the first great therapeutic gesture in chronic hepatitis C patients to allow specific combined treatment and eventually a more successful liver transplant.