Prevalence of Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) surface antigen and HBVassociated hepatocellular carcinoma in Kenyans of various ages
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Date
2011Author
Mutuma, Geoffrey Zambezi
Mbuchi, Margaret W
Zeyhle, Eberhard
Fasana, Rana
Okoth, Fredrick A
Kabanga, J. Maina
Kuria, Julius. T
Shiramba, Luseso
Njenga, M. Kariuki
Osidiana, Vincent
Kaiguri, Peter. M
Language
enMetadata
Show full item recordAbstract
As a follow-up of an earlier study in Kenya that reported a 5:1 association between chronic liver
disease and/or liver cancer with hepatitis B virus surface antigens (HBsAg), we investigated the
prevalence of hepatitis B virus surface antigen in an asymptomatic rural normadic population,
and among hepatocellular carcinoma patients in a major urban centre. In a rural population
of 579 individuals, there was an overall HBsAg prevalence of 8.8%, with the largest number
(34%) of those positive being between 5 and 10 years of age. The number of HBsAg positives
decreased with advance in age, suggesting either mother to child transmission or early
childhood exposure to hepatitis B virus (HBV). In a small group (N = 51) of rural patients seeking
medical attention because of clinical symptoms of hepatomegaly and/or splenomegaly, 52%
were HBsAg positive. Of the 88 liver cancer biopsies examined from an urban population, 78
(86.6%) were hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases occurring mostly among 41 – 60 year old
people, with the remaining being cholangiosarcomas (9%) and hepatoblastomas (2%). More
importantly 75% of the HCC cases were HBsAg positive. Among the urban liver cancer cases,
there was a male: female ratio of 5:2, which was also reflected by the high number of HBsAgpositive
rural cases of patients with hepatomegaly. Taken together, these results indicate a
greater than 5:2 association between HCC and HBV infection, and a higher prevalence of HBV
exposure in males than females.
Citation
Afr J Health Sci. 2011; 18:53-61]Collections
- Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) [10387]