Infection with hepatitis viruses, FIB-4 index and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in southern Italy: a population-based cohort study.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its association with hepatitis C (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections, FIB-4 index and liver enzymes was assessed in an area of the province of Naples covered by a population-based cancer registry.


METHODS
We conducted a cohort investigation on 4492 individuals previously enrolled in a population-based seroprevalent survey on HCV and HBV infections. The diagnosis of HCC was assessed through a record linkage with the cancer registry. Hepatic metabolic activity was measured through serum alanine transaminase, aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl-transferase, and platelet. The FIB-4 index was used as a marker of fibrosis. We computed HCC incidence rates (IR) for 100,000 (105) person-years of observation, and multivariable hazard ratios (HR) with 95 % confidence intervals (CI) to assess risk factors for HCC.


RESULTS
Twenty two cases of HCC were diagnosed during follow-up (IR = 63.3 cases/105). Significantly increased HCC risks were documented in individuals with higher than normal liver enzymes and low platelet count; in the 239 HCV RNA-positives (HR = 61.8, 95 % CI:13.3-286); and in the 95 HBsAg-positives (HR = 75.0) -as compared to uninfected individuals. The highest FIB-4 score was associated with a 17.6-fold increased HCC risk.


CONCLUSIONS
An elevated FIB-4 index turned out to be an important predictor of HCC occurrence. Although the standard method to assess hepatic fibrosis in chronic hepatitis remains the histologic staging of liver biopsy specimen, the assessment of FIB-4 in HCV RNA-positive individuals may help in identifying the highest HCC-risk individuals who need anti-HCV treatment most urgently.
Registro Tumori, ASL Napoli-3 Sud, Brusciano, Napoli Italy.
Mario
M
Fusco
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
Pierluca
P
Piselli
Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, (PN) Italy.
Saverio
S
Virdone
Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Napoli 3, Brusciano, Napoli Italy.
Pietro
P
Di Cicco
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
Paola
P
Scognamiglio
Scientific Directorate, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, (PN) Italy.
Paolo
P
De Paoli
Registro Tumori, ASL Napoli-3 Sud, Brusciano, Napoli Italy.
Valerio
V
Ciullo
Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, (PN) Italy.
Diana
D
Verdirosi
Azienda Sanitaria Locale (ASL) Napoli 3, Brusciano, Napoli Italy.
Michele
M
D'Orazio
Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, (PN) Italy.
Luigino
L
Dal Maso
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, National Institute for Infectious Diseases "L. Spallanzani", Rome, Italy.
Enrico
E
Girardi
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Silvia
S
Franceschi
Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, CRO Aviano National Cancer Institute, Via F. Gallini 2, 33081 Aviano, (PN) Italy.
Diego
0000-0003-0565-8920
D
Serraino
Epidemiology; Liver diseases; Liver fibrosis index; Relative risk; Southern Italy; Viral hepatitis