Background: Although hepatocellular carcinoma was historically considered an important scourge in Middle Africa, there is no publication describing this disease in Chad. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis ...Background: Although hepatocellular carcinoma was historically considered an important scourge in Middle Africa, there is no publication describing this disease in Chad. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 219 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) attending care at the University Reference Hospital of Ndjamena between 2007 and 2016. Results: This series of HCC was characterized by a male predominance (M:F = 2.4) with a mean tumor onset at the end of the fifth decade of life (49.9 ± 14.7 years). Tumors appear on a cirrhotic liver in 70% of cases and were already multifocal at diagnosis in two thirds of the patients. Alpha-fetoprotein was above the physiological threshold (10 ng/mL) in 73.4% of cases measured and above the so-called diagnostic level (400 ng/mL) in 53.4% of patients. The principal risk factor was chronic infection with hepatitis B virus, detected in 52.6% of cases. Patients seropositive for hepatitis C virus were infrequent (8.6%) and heavy alcohol intake was even less prevalent (5.9%). Remarkably, a very large subset of patients did not present any infectious or lifestyle risk factor (43.4%). Mean AFP values or fibrosis assessment scores are usually lower in these patients than in HBV-infected ones. Conclusions: The etiological spectrum of HCC is far from being fully established in Chad. Further epidemiological research is warranted to identify risk factors involved in a large proportion of cases. Exposure to aflatoxin B1 and dysmetabolic conditions affecting the liver have to be investigated as priority.展开更多
Background: In comparison to other forms of chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis is generally poorly studied in sub Saharan Africa. In Chad, more particularly, no data are available despite the burden of liver diseases c...Background: In comparison to other forms of chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis is generally poorly studied in sub Saharan Africa. In Chad, more particularly, no data are available despite the burden of liver diseases considered as the first cause of hospitalizations in the country. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 268 patients with liver cirrhosis attending care at the University Reference Hospital between 2007 and 2016. Results: This series of liver cirrhoses was characterized by a weak mal predominance (M:F = 1.7). The age of onset occurs significantly earlier in women than in men (40.6 ± 12.0 vs. 44.4 ± 13.4, p = 0.0171). The principal risk factor was persistent infection with hepatitis B virus (49% of cases) followed distantly by infection with hepatitis C virus (13%) and excessive alcohol consumption (10%). Men were more frequently carrying HBV surface antigen than women (65.6% vs 35.9% p = 0.0019). HBV-associated liver cirrhosis was overall more severe than diseases from other causes. A large proportion of cirrhosis (30%), observed primarily in women (48.1% vs 24.1%, p = 0.0036), was considered are cryptogenic. Conclusions: The etiological spectrum of liver cirrhosis remains to be properly defined in Chad. This lack of knowledge prevents the implementation of an efficient policy of prevention. A significant effort should be secured to characterize hitherto neglected infectious, lifestyle or genetic risk factors responsible of this form of terminal disease and improve subsequently liver health of local populations.展开更多
BACKGROUND: The global risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is largely due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. In recent years, however, an increased prevalence of non-viral HCC has bee...BACKGROUND: The global risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is largely due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. In recent years, however, an increased prevalence of non-viral HCC has been noted. The clinical impact of the presence/absence of viral infections in HCC remains controversial. The present study aimed to assess the effect of hepatitis viruses on demographics, clinical and pathological features and long-term outcome in a large cohort of Romanian patients who underwent surgery for HCC. METHODS: The study included 404 patients with HCC who had undergone resection, transplantation or radiofrequency ablation at a single institution between 2001 and 2010. The patients were divided into four groups: 85 patients with hepatitis B virus infection (HBV group), 164 patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV group), 39 patients with hepatitis B and C virus co-infection (HBCV group), and 116 patients without viral infection (non-BC group). RESULTS: The patients of both HBV (56.0±11.3 years) and HBCV groups (56.0±9.9 years) were significantly younger than those of the HCV (61.0±8.5 years, P=0.001) and non-BC groups(61.0±13.0 years, P=0.002). Interestingly, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis was significantly lower in the non-BC group (47%)than in any other subsets (72%-90%, P【0.002). Furthermore, the non-BC patients were more advanced according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages than the patients of the HCV or HBCV groups (P【0.020); accordingly, they were more frequently assessed beyond the Milan criteria than any other groups (P=0.001). No significant differences in the disease-free or overall survival rates were observed among these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-viral HCC are diagnosed at advanced ages and stages, a situation plausibly due to the poor effectiveness of cancer surveillance in community practice. The presence of viral infections does not appear to impair the longterm prognosis after surgical treatment in patients with HCC; however, there is a trend for worse disease-free survival rates in HBCV patients, though statistical significance was not reached.展开更多
Hepatitis C virus （HCV） is a global health concern, notably in Southeast Asia, and in Laos the presentation of the HCV- induced liver disease is poorly known. Our objective was thus to describe a comprehensive HCV i...Hepatitis C virus （HCV） is a global health concern, notably in Southeast Asia, and in Laos the presentation of the HCV- induced liver disease is poorly known. Our objective was thus to describe a comprehensive HCV infection pattern in order to guide national health policies. A study on a group of 1765 patients formerly diagnosed by rapid test in health centres was conducted at the Centre of Infectiology Lao Christophe Merieux in Vientiane. The demographic information of patients, their infection status （viral load： VL）, liver function （aminotransferases） and treatments were analysed. Results showed that gender distribution of infected people was balanced; with median ages of 53.8 for men and 51.6 years for women （13-86 years）. The majority of patients （72%） were confirmed positive （VL 〉 50 IU/mL） and 28% of them had high VL （〉 61oglo）. About 23% of patients had level of aminotransferases indicative of liver damage （〉 40 IU/mL）; but less than 20% of patients received treatment. Patients rarely received a second sampling or medical imaging. The survey also showed that cycloferon, pegylated interferon and ribavirin were the drugs prescribed preferentially by the medical staff, without following any international recommendations schemes. In conclusion, we recommend that a population screening policy and better management of patients should be urgently implemented in the country, respecting official guidelines. However, the cost of biological analysis and treatment are significant barriers that must be removed. Public health resolutions should be immediately enforced in the perspective of meeting the WHO HCV elimination deadline by 2030.展开更多
AIM:To assess the role of the major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) development in the western part of North Africa.METHODS:A multicenter case control study was conducted in Tunisia,Morocco and Algeria ...AIM:To assess the role of the major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) development in the western part of North Africa.METHODS:A multicenter case control study was conducted in Tunisia,Morocco and Algeria in collaboration with Pasteur Institutes in these countries.A total of 164 patients with HCC and 250 control subjects without hepatic diseases were included.Prevalences of HBsAg,anti-hepatitis C virus(HCV)and diabetes were assessed.HCV and HBV genotyping were performed for anti-HCV and HBsAg positive patients.RESULTS:The mean age of patients was 62±10 years old for a 1.5 M:F sex ratio.Sixty percent of HCC patients were positive for anti-HCV and 17.9% for HBsAg.Diabetes was detected in 18% of cases.Odd ratio(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were 32.0(15.8-65.0),7.2(3.2-16.1) and 8.0(3.1 -20.0)for anti-HCV,HBsAg and diabetes respectively.Multivariate analysis indicated that the three studied factors were independent.1b HCV genotype and D HBV genotype were predominant in HCC patients.HCV was the only risk factor significantly associated with an excess of cirrhosis(90% vs 68% for all other risk factors collectively,P=0.00168).Excessive alcohol consumption was reliably established for 19(17.6%) cases among the 108 HCC patients for whom data is available.CONCLUSION:HCV and HBV infections and diabetes are the main determinants of HCC development in North Africa.An active surveillance and secondary prevention programs for patients with chronic hepatitis and nutrition-associated metabolic liver diseases are the most important steps to reduce the risk of HCC in the region.Salah Berkane,Department of Gastroenterology BologhineUniversity Hospital,Bologhine 16090,Algiers。展开更多
Hepatitis C virus(HCV)is still one of the main causes of liver disease worldwide.Metabolic disorders,including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),induced by HCV have been shown to accelerate the progression of fi...Hepatitis C virus(HCV)is still one of the main causes of liver disease worldwide.Metabolic disorders,including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),induced by HCV have been shown to accelerate the progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis and to increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.An optimal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PPARGC1A)activity is crucial to prevent NAFLD installation.The present study aims to investigate the associations between two common PPARGC1A polymorphisms(rs8192678 and rs12640088)and the outcomes of HCV infection in a North African context.A series of 592 consecutive Moroccan subjects,including 292 patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC),100 resolvers and 200 healthy controls were genotyped using a TaqMan allelic discrimination assay.PPARGC1A variations at rs8192678 and rs12640088 were not associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV infection(adjusted ORs=0.76 and 0.79 respectively,P[0.05,for both).Furthermore,multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that both SNPs were not associated with fibrosis progression(OR=0.71;95%CI 0.20–2.49;P=0.739;OR=1.28;95%CI 0.25–6.54;P=0.512,respectively).We conclude that,in the genetic context of South Mediterranean patients,rs8192678 and rs12640088 polymorphisms of PPARGC1 A are neither associated with spontaneous clearance nor with disease progression in individuals infected with HCV.展开更多
文摘Background: Although hepatocellular carcinoma was historically considered an important scourge in Middle Africa, there is no publication describing this disease in Chad. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 219 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) attending care at the University Reference Hospital of Ndjamena between 2007 and 2016. Results: This series of HCC was characterized by a male predominance (M:F = 2.4) with a mean tumor onset at the end of the fifth decade of life (49.9 ± 14.7 years). Tumors appear on a cirrhotic liver in 70% of cases and were already multifocal at diagnosis in two thirds of the patients. Alpha-fetoprotein was above the physiological threshold (10 ng/mL) in 73.4% of cases measured and above the so-called diagnostic level (400 ng/mL) in 53.4% of patients. The principal risk factor was chronic infection with hepatitis B virus, detected in 52.6% of cases. Patients seropositive for hepatitis C virus were infrequent (8.6%) and heavy alcohol intake was even less prevalent (5.9%). Remarkably, a very large subset of patients did not present any infectious or lifestyle risk factor (43.4%). Mean AFP values or fibrosis assessment scores are usually lower in these patients than in HBV-infected ones. Conclusions: The etiological spectrum of HCC is far from being fully established in Chad. Further epidemiological research is warranted to identify risk factors involved in a large proportion of cases. Exposure to aflatoxin B1 and dysmetabolic conditions affecting the liver have to be investigated as priority.
文摘Background: In comparison to other forms of chronic liver diseases, cirrhosis is generally poorly studied in sub Saharan Africa. In Chad, more particularly, no data are available despite the burden of liver diseases considered as the first cause of hospitalizations in the country. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 268 patients with liver cirrhosis attending care at the University Reference Hospital between 2007 and 2016. Results: This series of liver cirrhoses was characterized by a weak mal predominance (M:F = 1.7). The age of onset occurs significantly earlier in women than in men (40.6 ± 12.0 vs. 44.4 ± 13.4, p = 0.0171). The principal risk factor was persistent infection with hepatitis B virus (49% of cases) followed distantly by infection with hepatitis C virus (13%) and excessive alcohol consumption (10%). Men were more frequently carrying HBV surface antigen than women (65.6% vs 35.9% p = 0.0019). HBV-associated liver cirrhosis was overall more severe than diseases from other causes. A large proportion of cirrhosis (30%), observed primarily in women (48.1% vs 24.1%, p = 0.0036), was considered are cryptogenic. Conclusions: The etiological spectrum of liver cirrhosis remains to be properly defined in Chad. This lack of knowledge prevents the implementation of an efficient policy of prevention. A significant effort should be secured to characterize hitherto neglected infectious, lifestyle or genetic risk factors responsible of this form of terminal disease and improve subsequently liver health of local populations.
文摘BACKGROUND: The global risk of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is largely due to hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections. In recent years, however, an increased prevalence of non-viral HCC has been noted. The clinical impact of the presence/absence of viral infections in HCC remains controversial. The present study aimed to assess the effect of hepatitis viruses on demographics, clinical and pathological features and long-term outcome in a large cohort of Romanian patients who underwent surgery for HCC. METHODS: The study included 404 patients with HCC who had undergone resection, transplantation or radiofrequency ablation at a single institution between 2001 and 2010. The patients were divided into four groups: 85 patients with hepatitis B virus infection (HBV group), 164 patients with hepatitis C virus infection (HCV group), 39 patients with hepatitis B and C virus co-infection (HBCV group), and 116 patients without viral infection (non-BC group). RESULTS: The patients of both HBV (56.0±11.3 years) and HBCV groups (56.0±9.9 years) were significantly younger than those of the HCV (61.0±8.5 years, P=0.001) and non-BC groups(61.0±13.0 years, P=0.002). Interestingly, the prevalence of liver cirrhosis was significantly lower in the non-BC group (47%)than in any other subsets (72%-90%, P【0.002). Furthermore, the non-BC patients were more advanced according to the Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stages than the patients of the HCV or HBCV groups (P【0.020); accordingly, they were more frequently assessed beyond the Milan criteria than any other groups (P=0.001). No significant differences in the disease-free or overall survival rates were observed among these groups. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with non-viral HCC are diagnosed at advanced ages and stages, a situation plausibly due to the poor effectiveness of cancer surveillance in community practice. The presence of viral infections does not appear to impair the longterm prognosis after surgical treatment in patients with HCC; however, there is a trend for worse disease-free survival rates in HBCV patients, though statistical significance was not reached.
基金supported by CILM, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, Campus Francethe Fondation Mérieux
文摘Hepatitis C virus （HCV） is a global health concern, notably in Southeast Asia, and in Laos the presentation of the HCV- induced liver disease is poorly known. Our objective was thus to describe a comprehensive HCV infection pattern in order to guide national health policies. A study on a group of 1765 patients formerly diagnosed by rapid test in health centres was conducted at the Centre of Infectiology Lao Christophe Merieux in Vientiane. The demographic information of patients, their infection status （viral load： VL）, liver function （aminotransferases） and treatments were analysed. Results showed that gender distribution of infected people was balanced; with median ages of 53.8 for men and 51.6 years for women （13-86 years）. The majority of patients （72%） were confirmed positive （VL 〉 50 IU/mL） and 28% of them had high VL （〉 61oglo）. About 23% of patients had level of aminotransferases indicative of liver damage （〉 40 IU/mL）; but less than 20% of patients received treatment. Patients rarely received a second sampling or medical imaging. The survey also showed that cycloferon, pegylated interferon and ribavirin were the drugs prescribed preferentially by the medical staff, without following any international recommendations schemes. In conclusion, we recommend that a population screening policy and better management of patients should be urgently implemented in the country, respecting official guidelines. However, the cost of biological analysis and treatment are significant barriers that must be removed. Public health resolutions should be immediately enforced in the perspective of meeting the WHO HCV elimination deadline by 2030.
基金Supported by the"Direction des Programmes Transversaux de Recherches of the Institut Pasteur of Paris(PTR 130)"the "Tunisian Secretariat for Scientific Research and Technology SERST for Tunisian part of the study(LR:Hépatites et maladies viralesépidémiques)"
文摘AIM:To assess the role of the major risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) development in the western part of North Africa.METHODS:A multicenter case control study was conducted in Tunisia,Morocco and Algeria in collaboration with Pasteur Institutes in these countries.A total of 164 patients with HCC and 250 control subjects without hepatic diseases were included.Prevalences of HBsAg,anti-hepatitis C virus(HCV)and diabetes were assessed.HCV and HBV genotyping were performed for anti-HCV and HBsAg positive patients.RESULTS:The mean age of patients was 62±10 years old for a 1.5 M:F sex ratio.Sixty percent of HCC patients were positive for anti-HCV and 17.9% for HBsAg.Diabetes was detected in 18% of cases.Odd ratio(OR)and 95% confidence intervals(CI) were 32.0(15.8-65.0),7.2(3.2-16.1) and 8.0(3.1 -20.0)for anti-HCV,HBsAg and diabetes respectively.Multivariate analysis indicated that the three studied factors were independent.1b HCV genotype and D HBV genotype were predominant in HCC patients.HCV was the only risk factor significantly associated with an excess of cirrhosis(90% vs 68% for all other risk factors collectively,P=0.00168).Excessive alcohol consumption was reliably established for 19(17.6%) cases among the 108 HCC patients for whom data is available.CONCLUSION:HCV and HBV infections and diabetes are the main determinants of HCC development in North Africa.An active surveillance and secondary prevention programs for patients with chronic hepatitis and nutrition-associated metabolic liver diseases are the most important steps to reduce the risk of HCC in the region.Salah Berkane,Department of Gastroenterology BologhineUniversity Hospital,Bologhine 16090,Algiers。
文摘Hepatitis C virus(HCV)is still one of the main causes of liver disease worldwide.Metabolic disorders,including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease(NAFLD),induced by HCV have been shown to accelerate the progression of fibrosis to cirrhosis and to increase the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.An optimal peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha(PPARGC1A)activity is crucial to prevent NAFLD installation.The present study aims to investigate the associations between two common PPARGC1A polymorphisms(rs8192678 and rs12640088)and the outcomes of HCV infection in a North African context.A series of 592 consecutive Moroccan subjects,including 292 patients with chronic hepatitis C(CHC),100 resolvers and 200 healthy controls were genotyped using a TaqMan allelic discrimination assay.PPARGC1A variations at rs8192678 and rs12640088 were not associated with spontaneous clearance of HCV infection(adjusted ORs=0.76 and 0.79 respectively,P[0.05,for both).Furthermore,multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that both SNPs were not associated with fibrosis progression(OR=0.71;95%CI 0.20–2.49;P=0.739;OR=1.28;95%CI 0.25–6.54;P=0.512,respectively).We conclude that,in the genetic context of South Mediterranean patients,rs8192678 and rs12640088 polymorphisms of PPARGC1 A are neither associated with spontaneous clearance nor with disease progression in individuals infected with HCV.
