Effects of alcohol on the liver in HBsAg carriers

The frequency of anti-HBe and the effects of alcohol on the liver were serologically and histologically assessed in 28 nondrinking HBsAg carriers (group I), 33 mildly drinking HBsAg carriers (group II), and 21 moderately to heavily drinking HBsAg carriers (group III). The frequency of anti-HBe was significantly different in these groups (p less than 0.001). The frequency of chronic active hepatitis was significantly less in group III than in groups I or II (p less than 0.05). The frequency of HBeAg-positive carriers with chronic hepatitis was significantly less in group III (p less than 0.02). Histologically, the patients in group II mainly showed viral hepatic changes, whereas the patients in group III chiefly revealed alcoholic changes. Micronodular cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were seen in group III alone. These results suggest that increasing alcohol consumption is related to increasing prevalence of seroconversion from HBeAg to anti-HBe and to increasing prevalence of alcoholic liver disease and decreasing prevalence of chronic hepatitis.