Pan African Medical Journal
Journal / Pan African Medical Journal / Vol. 19 No. 1 (2014) / Articles

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Published:

Dec 15, 2014

Keywords:

Hepatocellular carcinoma; hepatitis C; developing countries; epidemiology; cirrhosis; alcohol; parenteral exposition; Cameroon

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 1 (2014)

Section

Articles

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Firmin Ankouane Andoulo

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Dominique Noah Noah

Yaounde Central Hospital, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and pharmaceuticals sciences, University of Douala, Douala, Cameroon

Roger Djapa

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Mathurin Kowo

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Paul Talla

Yaounde General Hospital, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Edith Hell Medjo

Yaounde Central Hospital, Department of Radiology, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Isidore Kamsi Djomkam

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Bernadette Ngo Nonga

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of surgery and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Oudou Njoya

Yaounde University Hospital Center, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Elie Claude Ndjitoyap Ndam

Yaounde General Hospital, Department of internal medicine and specialties, Faculty of medicine and biomedical sciences, University of Yaounde I, Yaoundé, Cameroon

Abstract

Introduction: hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a global public health problem. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection accounts for close to 24% of HCC in developing countries especially when associated with cirrhosis. There exists no vaccine against HCV to prevent the occurrence of HCV-related HCC. A sound knowledge of the epidemiology and prevention of the initial infection is vital. The aim of our study was to determine the epidemiologic profile of HCV-related HCC in Cameroon to improve its’ management.

Methods: it was a prospective study of histologically proven HCV-related HCC seen in two University Centers in Yaounde, Cameroon from March 2012 to January 2013. Demographic data (age, gender), alcohol abuse (>80g/day), presence of cirrhosis, tobacco abuse and parenteral exposition were analyzed.

Results: twenty-six patients with histologically proven HCV–related HCC were included (18 men (69.2%) and 8 women (30.8%); mean age +/- SD, 61.46+/-10.18 years). A total of 22 (84.6%) patients had a parenteral exposition, 02 (7.7%) patients were alcoholics and 06 (23.1%) patients were smokers. The proportion of patients with cirrhosis was 69.2% against 30.8% cirrhosis-free. Patients with cirrhosis were relatively younger than those cirrhosis-free (mean age +/- SD, 59.05+/-10.05 years vs 66.87+/- 8.72 years, p=0.06). HCV-related HCC was more prevalent in 60 years and above patients (53.8%, 95%CI: 33.4-73.4). The relative risk of HCC among alcoholics patients was high (RR: 1.5, 95%CI: 1.13-1.99, p<0.05).

Conclusion: in Cameroon, HCV-related HCC is more prevalent among age older than 60 years, a finding which is relatively less to that found in western countries, male gender is twice more at risk than female gender and cirrhosis frequency is less compared to that observed elsewhere. HCV and alcohol play a synergistic role in the occurrence of HCC in our environment.

Journal Identifiers

eISSN: 1937-8688