Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients Suffering from Chronic Hepatitis B versus Co-Infection of Hepatitis B and D Virus

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of hepatic cancer in subjects suffering from chronic liver disease due to hepatitis B versus hepatitis B with co-infection of viral hepatitis D. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was carried out in the Department of Medicine (Hepatology & Gastroenterology) at Isra University Hospital, Hyderabad Sindh, from March 2015 to February 2016. Both male and female patients, from 20-70 years of age either suffering from viral Hepatitis B alone or co-infected with viral hepatitis D were included in our research. Individuals having co-infection of Human Immunodeficiency virus, Viral hepatitis C, Wilson's disease, Hepatitis due to auto-immune diseases, alcoholic fatty liver disease, haemochromatosis, pregnant women and those patients who refused to give consent were excluded from study.
Results: Out of total 200 patients, 142(71%) were males while 58(29) were females. Mean age was 52.83+15.6 years. Total 173(86.5%) patients were suffering from viral hepatitis B alone, while 27(13.5%) were infected by co-infection of Viral hepatitis B and D. Total frequency of hepatocellular carcinoma was 45(22.5%) in all cases. HCC was more frequent (33.34%) in patients with co-infection of chronic hepatitis B and D, as compared to only chronic hepatitis B patients (20.80%) but the difference was non-significant (p-value 0.14).
Conclusion: Hepatocellular carcinoma was more frequent amongst patients co-infected with viral hepatitis D as compared to alone infection of hepatitis B virus.