摘要
AIM: To identify factors associated with the age at onset of hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Five hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients positive for HCV antibody and treatment-nafive HCC diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 were analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to age at HCC onset: < 60 years (n = 79), 60-79 years (n = 439), or ≥ 80 years (n = 38). Differences among groups in terms of sex, body mass index (BMI), lifestyle characteristics, and liver function were assessed. Factors associated with HCC onset in patients < 60 or ≥ 80 years were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Significant differences emerged for sex, BMI, degree of smoking and alcohol consumption, mean bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) levels, prothrombin activity, and platelet counts. The mean BMI values of male patients > 60 years old were lower and mean BMI values of female patients < 60 years old were higher than those of the general Japanese population. BMI > 25 kg/m2 [hazard ratio (HR), 1.8, P = 0.045], excessive alcohol consumption (HR, 2.5, P = 0.024), male sex (HR, 3.6, P = 0.002), and GGT levels > 50 IU/L (HR, 2.4, P = 0.014) were independently associated with HCC onset in patients < 60 years. Low ALT level was the only factor associated with HCC onset in patients aged ≥ 80 years. CONCLUSION: Increased BMI is associated with increased risk for early HCC development in HCV-infected patients. Achieving recommended BMI and reducing alcohol intake could help prevent hepatic carcinogenesis.
AIM： To identify factors associated with the age at onset of hepatitis C virus （HCV）-related hepatocellular carcinoma （HCC）. METHODS： Five hundred and fifty-six consecutive patients positive for HCV antibody and treatment-nafive HCC diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 were analyzed. Patients were classified into three groups according to age at HCC onset： 60 years （n = 79）, 60-79 years （n = 439）, or ≥ 80 years （n = 38）. Differences among groups in terms of sex, body mass index （BMI）, lifestyle characteristics, and liver function were assessed. Factors associated with HCC onset in patients 60 or ≥ 80 years were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS： Significant differences emerged for sex, BMI, degree of smoking and alcohol consumption, mean bilirubin, alanine aminotransferase （ALT）, and γ-glutamyl transpeptidase （GGT） levels, prothrombin activity, and platelet counts. The mean BMI values of male patients 60 years old were lower and mean BMI values of female patients 60 years old were higher than those of the general Japanese population. BMI 25 kg/m2 [hazard ratio （HR）, 1.8, P = 0.045], excessive alcohol consumption （HR, 2.5, P = 0.024）, male sex （HR, 3.6, P = 0.002）, and GGT levels 50 IU/L （HR, 2.4, P = 0.014） were independently associated with HCC onset in patients 60 years. Low ALT level was the only factor associated with HCC onset in patients aged ≥ 80 years. CONCLUSION： Increased BMI is associated with increased risk for early HCC development in HCV-infected patients. Achieving recommended BMI and reducing alcohol intake could help prevent hepatic carcinogenesis.
