CLDF Title
Home | Contact Us | Bookmark
MASH HCC ALCOHOL LIVER DISEASE PEDIATRIC LIVER DISEASE
Embassy of Education
Webcasts Abstract Library LiverQ Academy National Conference Regional Conferences
 
Back  
 
Reuters Health Information (2011-09-27): Combined effects of HBV, HCV on hepatoma vary with age, gender

Epidemiology

Combined effects of HBV, HCV on hepatoma vary with age, gender

Last Updated: 2011-09-27 14:09:28 -0400 (Reuters Health)

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Coinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is associated with substantially higher risk of hepatocellular carcinoma than single infections, but the complex interactions of the viruses vary depending on gender and age, a study from Taiwan shows.

The researchers report that in general, coinfection produced weaker effects than previously reported.

"By the age of 75 years, one quarter of patients or more affected by chronic viral hepatitis will be affected by hepatocellular carcinoma," or HCC, the research team noted in an August 22nd online paper in the Journal of Clinical Oncology.

Led by Dr. Yen-Tsung Huang of Harvard University, the study tracked 23,820 residents of Taiwan aged 30 to 65 years at enrollment in 1991-1992.

Overall, 17.44% were seropositive for HBV surface antigen and 5.52% were seropositive for antibodies against HCV.

Altogether, 477 subjects developed HCC.

The cumulative lifetime incidence of HCC for was 38.35% for men with both viruses and 27.40% for women with both viruses.

Men and women who were seropositive only for HBsAg had cumulative lifetime HCC rates of 27.38% and 7.99%, respectively. These rates in men and women with only HCV were 23.73% and 16.71%, respectively.

In contrast, the cumulative lifetime incidence rates for subjects with neither virus were 1.55% in men and 1.03% in women.

On multivariate analysis, the hazard ratio for HCC was 19.5 for those positive for both infections.

The interactive effects of the two viruses varied based on age, however. The HCC risk with dual infection was "sub-additive" before the age of 65 years, especially in men. But after age 65, the risk with dual infection was "consistently higher than that for single infection."

Specifically, in older patients, the HR in men was 22.38 for dual infection vs. 8.94 and 12.34 for single infections with HBV and HCV, respectively. In women after age 65, HRs for HCC were 27.29 with dual infection, 6.58 with HBV and 15.01 with HCV.

"With the increase in age, the HCC risk decreased in HBsAg-seropositive men but increased in anti-HCV-seropositive women," said study senior author Dr. Chien-Jen Chen, of the National Taiwan University in Taipei, in an email to Reuters Health.

The authors advise more intensive clinical management of patients with dual infection.

"The therapy of chronic HBV/HCV infection using antivirals and/or interferon may reduce the risk of newly developed HCC," Dr. Chen said. "Frequent liver surveillance using various imaging methods (ultrasonography, CT scan, angiogram, etc.) may help early detection of small HCC, which may be treated more effectively and efficiently by surgery or embolization. The HCC case fatality may thus be lowered."

SOURCE: http://bit.ly/qydCw3

J Clin Oncol 2011.

 
 
 
 

Subscribe

Be the first to know about our latest upcoming programs and events!

CLDF

Follow us

The Chronic Liver Disease Foundation is a non-profit organization with content developed specifically for healthcare professionals.
© Copyright 2012-2025 Chronic Liver Disease Foundation. All rights reserved. This site is maintained as an educational resource for US healthcare providers only.
Use of this Web site is governed by the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation terms of use and privacy statement.