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Hepatocellular carcinoma in Saudi Arabia: Role of hepatitis B and C infection
Author(s) -
AYOOLA EPHRAIM A,
GADOUR MOHAMMED OEH
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1746.2003.03334.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , hbsag , hepatitis b virus , hepatitis c virus , gastroenterology , confidence interval , risk factor , population , hepatitis b , hepatitis c , virus , immunology , environmental health
Background and Aim: To estimate the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in non‐alcoholic patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections, 118 patients who were admitted to a regional hospital in Saudi Arabia were compared with 118 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy individuals. Results: The prevalence of HBsAg in HCC patients (67%; 95% confidence interval (CI): 57.7–75.3) was significantly higher than the rate (6.7%; 95%CI: 3.0–12.9) in the controls (OR: 28.4; 95%CI: 12.6–63.9; P < 0.001). There was a high risk of HCC in the presence of HBsAg alone (OR: 34.3; 95%CI: 14.8–79.1, P < 0.001) and anti‐HCV alone (OR: 12.2; 95%CI: 3.2–47.2; P < 0.001). Although HBV and HCV were independent risk factors in the development of HCC, there was no interactive relationship between the two viruses. Dual infections occurred in only 3.4% and were associated with only a moderate increase in the risk of HCC (OR: 14.6; 95%CI: 1.57–135.9). In 24.6% of the cases no virus was identified as the etiologic factor. Conclusion: Hepatitis B virus constitutes a major risk factor and HCV contributes a less significant role in the development of HCC. The ongoing program of HBV vaccination may significantly decrease the prevalence of HBV‐associated HCC in this population.