[PDF][PDF] Hepatitis C-related hepatocellular carcinoma: prevalence around the world, factors interacting, and role of genotypes

AK Mitra - Epidemiologic reviews, 1999 - academia.edu
Epidemiologic reviews, 1999academia.edu
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequently occurring cancer world-wide and is
responsible for approximately one million deaths each year (1). It is frequently found in
patients with chronic liver disease resulting from infection with hepatitis C virus, and as many
as 170 million or more people may be infected with this virus (2). Epidemiologic studies
have identified the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients infected with the hepatitis C
virus and the routes of transmission of the disease (3-5), but it is unclear what factors interact …
Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most frequently occurring cancer world-wide and is responsible for approximately one million deaths each year (1). It is frequently found in patients with chronic liver disease resulting from infection with hepatitis C virus, and as many as 170 million or more people may be infected with this virus (2). Epidemiologic studies have identified the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients infected with the hepatitis C virus and the routes of transmission of the disease (3-5), but it is unclear what factors interact with the virus to increase an individual's risk for carcinoma. The most plausible explanation presented thus far is that the virus causes chronic necroinflammatory hepatic disease with vigorous regeneration, fibrosis, and eventual cirrhosis (3). The World Health Organization has estimated that approximately 80 percent of patients with acute hepatitis C viral infection will go on to develop chronic hepatitis; of these, 20 percent will develop cirrhosis and 1-5 percent will progress to hepatocellular carcinoma (2). The purpose of this review is to determine which risk factors interact with hepatitis C infection among persons who develop hepatocellular carcinoma. Studies have shown that the roles of hepatitis B and C viruses in hepatocarcinogenesis vary considerably among populations. However, the independent role of hepatitis C virus in the genesis of hepatocellular carcinoma is poorly understood. Some conditions implicated as being predisposing, or etiologic factors for the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma, include older age, male sex, excessive alcohol consumption, blood transfusion, chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis, and dietary exposure to aflatoxin (6-10). An important next step
academia.edu