[A comparative cross-sectional study of the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with liver cirrhosis caused by hepatitis B virus, alcohol, or combination of hepatitis b virus and alcohol].
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol may be a cocarcinogen in patients with chronic viral hepatitis. We investigated the effect of alcohol on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in liver cirrhosis (LC) caused by hepatitis B virus (HBV).


METHODS
All patients with LC or HCC associated with HBV or alcohol, admitted between March 2001 and June 2005, were included. Patients were divided into three groups according to the etiology of LC: Alcohol (AL), HBV, or HBV alcohol (HBV AL). Age and laboratory data at the enrollment of study were analyzed. The logistic regression coefficiency for the prevalence of HCC was calculated by using variables such as age, gender, serologic markers, and etiology of LC.


RESULTS
In LC patients (n=342), the proportions of AL, HBV, and HBV AL groups were 44%, 39%, and 17%, respectively. The proportions of HCC in AL, HBV and HBV AL groups were 17%, 55%, and 76%, respectively. Age at the diagnosis of HCC was younger in HBV AL than in AL group (p=0.036). In logistic regression analysis for the risk factor of HCC, odds ratio of age was 1.056 (p0.001). Odds ratios of HBV and HBV AL group comparing AL were 8.449 (p0.001) and 17.609 (p0.001), respectively. Therefore, old age and chronic alcohol intake in patients with HBsAg were the risk factors of HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Chronic alcohol intake may be an additive factor for the development of HCC in patient with LC caused by HBV. However, a prospective cohort study is needed to confirm these findings.
Chung
Nak So
NS
Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea.
Kwon
Oh Sang
OS
Park
Cheul Hee
CH
Kim
Young Nam
YN
Cho
Gwon Hyun
GH
Lee
Jong Jun
JJ
Kim
Gil Hyun
GH
Kim
Hyun Ok
HO
Ko
Kwang Il
KI
Yu
Sang Kyun
SK
Kwon
Kwang An
KA
Kim
Yun Soo
YS
Choi
Duck Ju
DJ
Kim
Ju Hyun
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006519:Hepatitis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors