[HBs Ag and antibodies to hepatitis C virus in complicated chronic liver disease in Gabon. A case control study].
OBJECTIVE
The prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies are high in the general population in Gabon. The aim of this study was to perform a case control study to determine the role of hepatitis B and C viruses in decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.


METHODS
Between October 1990 and June 1998, HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies were investigated in 1 204 newly hospitalized patients. Sixty-seven had decompensated cirrhosis, 38 had hepatocellular carcinoma and six an association of both diseases. Prevalences were compared with those in a group of 527 sex and age matched controls from the same cohort.


RESULTS
HBs Ag prevalence among cases was 35.1% (decompensated cirrhosis: 34.2%; hepatocellular carcinoma: 40.5%) and 12.5% among controls. Anti-HCV were detected in 32.4% of cases (decompensated cirrhosis: 34.2%; hepatocellular carcinoma: 28.6%) and in 20.1% of controls. Complicated chronic liver disease was linked to HBs Ag (OR=11.3; IC: 4.8-26.7; cirrhosis: OR=18; IC: 5.3-61.5; hepatocellular carcinoma: OR=8.3; IC: 2.5-27.8) in patients from 15 to 34 years old. Above 45 years, complicated chronic liver disease was linked to anti-HCV antibodies (OR=2.9; IC: 1.6-5.3; cirrhosis: OR=2.8; IC: 1.4-5.8; hepatocellular carcinoma: OR=3.2; IC: 1.1-9.5).


CONCLUSIONS
Both Hepatitis B and C viruses are linked to complicated chronic liver disease in Gabon in an age-dependent manner.
Perret
Jean-Luc
JL
Service de Santé des Armées, Institut de Médecine Tropicale, Le Pharo, Marseille. jlucperret@infonie.fr
Moussavou-Kombila
Jean-Baptiste
JB
Delaporte
Eric
E
Pemba
Liliane-Flore
LF
Boguikouma
Jean-Bruno
JB
Matton
Thierry
T
Larouze
Bernard
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005681:Gabon / Q000453:epidemiology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000821:virology; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000821:virology; D008875:Middle Aged
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies
Antigène HBs et anticorps anti-VHC dans les hépatopathies chroniques compliquées au Gabon.