Year: 2006
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: A prospective study aimed at determining the relationship between hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and serum ferritin in Nigerian patients with primary liver cell carcinoma (PLCC) was carried out at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan; Nigeria.The study involved 42 adult Nigerians made up of 14 healthy subjects as controls and 14 patients each with PLCC and liver cirrhosis (LC) who consented to participate in the study.The subjects were controlled for age and sex.The diagnosis of the diseases was made from relevant clinical features, ultrasonography and histology of liver biopsy specimen.Blood specimen collected from the subjects were analysed for ferritin by radio-immuno assay using Amersham Kits, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection using HBsAg detection and anti-HCV by ELISA (Sanofi Pasteur.France).The study protocol was approved by the Joint UIIUCH Ethical Review Board.Data &shed was analysed with the SSPS software at a level of significance of p<O.OS.Serum ferritin >700ng/ml was detected only in 50% and 14% of the patients with PLCC and LC respectively with specificity of 93% as well as negative (78%) and positive (79%) predictive values.Serum anti-HCV and HBsAg were present in 14% and 71% of patients with PLCC respectively (p<0.005).Similarly, 29% and 14% of the patients and the Controls respectively were sero-positive for anti HCV while serum HBsAg was detected in equal proportions of the patients with LC (50%) and the Controls (43%).There was correlation between elevated serum ferritin and HBsAg (x' with Yates correction = 5.04, p= 0.025) but none with serum anti-HCV.In conclusion, the study shows that serum ferritin level 2 700ng/ml is indicative of PLCC among Nigerians especially in the presence of HBV infection but may not be useful when there is associated HCV infection.
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis C virus research
Subfield: Hepatology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2002542957