Virology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Virology, including details on viruses, pathology, classification, definitions.

Clinical features, biochemical parameters, and virological profiles of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Hong Kong.

Cheung TK, Lai CL, Wong BC, Fung J, Yuen MF

Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma patients are changing because of screening. AIM: To examine the clinical features of hepatocellular carcinoma patients in Hong Kong and validity of different staging systems. METHODS: A total of 223 Chinese patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were studied. RESULTS: Seventy-eight percent of hepatocellular carcinoma patients had chronic hepatitis B (43% diagnosed by screening). Hepatitis B positivity, weight loss, jaundice, encephalopathy, alpha-fetoprotein level, portal vein thrombosis, extrahepatic metastasis, and treatment were shown to be independent factors affecting survival. Of chronic hepatitis B patients, hepatitis B virus DNA levels (P = 0.001) and portal vein thrombosis (P = 0.008) were independent factors affecting survival. Seventy-six percent of chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatocellular carcinoma were hepatitis B e antigen negative. Screening patients had hepatocellular carcinoma detected at an earlier stage and better survival (median survival: 21 vs. 4 months, P < 0.0001). All staging systems had good stratification of survival. Prognosis and median survival generated were different when compared with the US data. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic hepatitis B was the most common cause of hepatocellular carcinoma in Hong Kong. High-risk chronic hepatitis B patients should be followed irrespective of the hepatitis B e antigen status. Hepatitis B virus DNA levels at the time of diagnosis are an important survival predictor. Screening detected hepatocellular carcinoma at an earlier stage and prolonged survival. Staging systems should be validated in different populations.

Published 15 August 2006 in Aliment Pharmacol Ther, 24(4): 573-83.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Virology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.