Epidemiology of viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Gastroenterology. 2012 May;142(6):1264-1273.e1. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2011.12.061.

Abstract

Most cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are associated with cirrhosis related to chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Changes in the time trends of HCC and most variations in its age-, sex-, and race-specific rates among different regions are likely to be related to differences in hepatitis viruses that are most prevalent in a population, the timing of their spread, and the ages of the individuals the viruses infect. Environmental, host genetic, and viral factors can affect the risk of HCC in individuals with HBV or HCV infection. This review summarizes the risk factors for HCC among HBV- or HCV-infected individuals, based on findings from epidemiologic studies and meta-analyses, as well as determinants of patient outcome and the HCC disease burden, globally and in the United States.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aflatoxin B1 / poisoning
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / epidemiology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / virology*
  • Coinfection / epidemiology
  • Cost of Illness
  • DNA, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Epidemiologic Studies
  • Genotype
  • Global Health
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens / blood
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B, Chronic / transmission
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / complications
  • Hepatitis C, Chronic / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications
  • Liver Cirrhosis / epidemiology
  • Liver Cirrhosis / virology
  • Liver Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / virology*
  • Meta-Analysis as Topic
  • Prevalence
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • Biomarkers
  • DNA, Viral
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis B e Antigens
  • Aflatoxin B1