Hepatitis B under control (undetectable) - Is moderate alcohol consumption acceptable?

[Victor101]

I was diagnosed with Hepatitis B chronic infection in 2004. Here are results since then:

10/2004
HBV DNA 266,000 IU/mL, 748,506 copies/mL

I went for treatment with one specialist who recommended EPIVIR HBV. I did not realize the seriousness of the issue and did not take medications on a daily basis. When I had to leave that specialist due to insurance changes, I checked the blood again. The levels had gone up!

6/2006
ALT - 109 U/L, AST - 70 U/L
HBV DNA, QN PCR 1,170,000 IU/mL, 3,672,072 copies/mL

The doctor I was referred to gave me the fright of my life, told me to leave alcohol completely and put me on medication of Baraclude 0.5 mg. The results were astonishing! I went from high numbers to undetectable within six months! Please note that my treatment began after 10/2006 blood test.

Here are the test results.

10/2006
ALT - 146 U/L, AST - 97 U/L
HBV DNA, QN PCR 2,480,000 IU/mL, 8,226,645 copies/mL

11/2006
ALT - 81 U/L, AST - 60 U/L
HBV DNA, QN PCR 455 IU/mL, 801 copies/mL

3/2007
ALT - 40 U/L, AST - 47 U/L
HBV DNA, QN PCR <100 IU/mL, <160 copies/mL (Below detection limits)

I have been regularly taking Baraclude and followed strict order of not touching alcohol for the past six months.

Now that my virus is undetectable and AST and ALT levels are within limits, I wonder if a drink or two once in a while will be okay. I am afraid to ask that question to my specialist as I know what his answer will be - NO!

Any guidance will be appreciated. Please note that I was never a heavy drinker and am definitely not an alcoholic (LOL)! When AST and ALT levels were up, I knew that my liver was still inflamed and needed to heal. But now that everything is under control (my virus will be suppressed as long as I take Baraclude) is there any harm with enjoying occasional drink!

Sorry if I repeated myself. I am 50+ male.

Victor

[GrandmaA]

There's a different page for hepatitis B. Check at the top of the forum. Most of us here have hep. C and we have taken shots so we don't get B.

[mikesimon]

I'm not really familiar with HBV but, as I see it, your enzymes while within normal are neverthelss not in an ideal range. I'd like to see them in the low 20s or teens before even thinking about alcohol. Alcohol is hard on the liver and if I were you I would wait at least until my enzymes settled down before entertaining the idea of alcohol. Recently a liver specialist suggested that the lower normal limit for ALT be set at 30 because people with higher than 30 ALT often have a liver disorder that goes undiagnosed because of the apparently "normal" enzyme result. Stay safe and stay away for any alcohol and let your liver heal and settle down and then ask yourself again whether it's a wise thing to do. Mike