Alcoholic liver disease and hepatitis C: A frequently underestimated combination

Figure 1 HCV and ALD, either in combination or alone, represent the majority of liver diseases (data from the US Centers of Disease Control and Prevention 2007). HCV: Hepatitis C virus; ALD: Alcoholic liver disease; HBV: Hepatitis B virus.

Figure 2 Natural course of ALD and HCV alone or in combination. Estimated risk and time interval for disease states are indicated (for more details see text).

Figure 3 Potential molecular mechanisms that explain the synergistic effect of alcohol and HCV on the progression of liver disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and iron accumulation seem to be key features of both diseases.