title: Pathogenic factors in cirrhosis with and without hepatocellular carcinoma: a multicenter Italian study.
abstract: We designed a multicenter cross-sectional study to evaluate the role of alcohol abuse, the hepatitis viruses and other pathogenic factors in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. A total of 1,829 consecutive cirrhosis patients, with or without HCC, was enrolled over 6 mo in 21 centers throughout Italy. The etiological categories and diagnostic criteria were preestablished. The median age of the patients was 59 yr (range, 13 to 85 yr); 63.6% of the patients were graded as Child class A, 23.4% as Child class B and 13% as Child class C. Hepatitis C virus antibodies were found in 72.1% of cases (47.7% alone, 21.2% with alcohol abuse, 3.2% with hepatitis B virus); HBsAg was present in 13.8% (4.2% alone, 3.2% with hepatitis D virus, 3.2% with hepatitis C virus, 3% with alcohol abuse), alcohol abuse with no concomitant viral infection was recorded in 8.7%, primary biliary cirrhosis was found in 1.8%, other causes were found in 1.4% and cryptogenic cirrhosis was only present in 5.3%. Hepatocellular carcinoma was detected in 11.9% of patients (217 cases). The presence of hepatocellular carcinoma was more frequent in males than females (14.7% vs. 7.3%; p < 0.001) and increased with worsening Child class (8.3% in Child class A, 16.9% in Child class B, 19.9% in Child class C, p < 0.001). The highest prevalences of hepatocellular carcinoma were observed in hepatitis B virus infection, with or without alcohol abuse (20% and 16%, respectively) and in hepatitis C virus cirrhosis, with or without alcohol abuse (16% and 10.3%, p < 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Clinica Malattie Tropicali ed Infettive, Università La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Bac
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: G B
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Gaeta
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Taliani
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Giusti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies