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Ethnic differences in the presentation of chronic hepatitis C
Author(s) -
Lepe R.,
LaydenAlmer J. E.,
Layden T. J.,
Cotler S.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
journal of viral hepatitis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.329
H-Index - 100
eISSN - 1365-2893
pISSN - 1352-0504
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2893.2005.00672.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cirrhosis , hepatitis c , liver biopsy , ethnic group , non hispanic whites , hepatitis , demography , population , hepatitis b , viral hepatitis , gastroenterology , biopsy , mexican americans , environmental health , sociology , anthropology
Summary. Hispanics comprise 13% of the population in the United States and are the fastest growing minority group. Features of hepatitis C in Hispanics have not been well characterized. The aims of this study were to compare features of hepatitis C among Hispanics, Whites, and African–Americans and to characterize hepatitis C infection in Hispanics. A retrospective analysis was performed on 1225 consecutive patients with hepatitis C seen at the University of Illinois at Chicago including 227 Hispanics, 508 Whites, and 490 African–Americans. Data collection consisted of demographic variables, risk factors for hepatitis C, history of alcohol use, laboratory parameters and liver histology. Pair‐wise comparisons showed that Hispanics had higher aminotransferase levels than Whites and African–Americans. Hispanics had higher portal inflammation scores on liver biopsy than African–Americans ( P = 0.002) and Whites ( P = 0.043). Hispanics had a higher frequency of cirrhosis than African–Americans ( P < 0.001) and a trend towards more cirrhosis than Whites ( P = 0.165). There was a trend towards a higher prevalence of cirrhosis in Hispanic women (56%) than in Hispanic men (45%) [ P = 0.14]. A cross‐sectional analysis of patients at our liver center showed that Hispanics with hepatitis C had higher aminotransferase levels, more portal inflammation than Whites and African–Americans, and a higher prevalence of cirrhosis than African–Americans.