title: Risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis B and prevention through treatment.
abstract: Risk factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection are being elucidated. An HBV DNA concentration greater than 10(4) copies/mL is an especially strong predictor of risk in individuals aged 30 years or older, independent of the level of serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Other predictors of cancer are HBV genotype, with genotype C imparting an increased risk, and serum ALT values at least two times the upper limit of normal. Viral suppression with continuous lamivudine therapy reduces the risk of complications and delays progression of liver disease as long as response is maintained.
authors.affiliation: University of Toronto, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada. Dr.Morris.Sherman@uhn.on.ca
authors.forename: Morris
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sherman
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology*; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018570:Risk Assessment; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; D019259:Lamivudine; D000410:Alanine Transaminase