Incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with thalassemia who had hepatitis C

ABSTRACT

Hepatitis is the infections of a common cause disease among poly transfused patients. Hepatitis C is slowed progression and inducing HCC. This study assessed HCC incidences, the role of iron and possible antitumor activity of chelators in 170 thalassemia patients using deferoxamine [DFO] therapy. They are diagnosed with Hepatitis C due to positive PCR-RNA. They are Treated with IFN. The follow up program including tests every 3 Months and PCR-RNA, AFP and liver US every 6 months. Whenever there was suspicion of liver malignancy, Biopsy was performed. From the total of 170 patients, 59.4% were male, and 40.6% were female. Mean age of thalassemia diagnosis was 2.69 +/- 5.403 [1-41] years and mean Age of hepatitis diagnosis was 17.37 +/- 7.263 [3-51] years. 92.4% of Patient's MT, 0.6% SS, 2.9% TI. the viral genome was Ia3a. 73.5% of patients had first course of therapy. The frequency of AFP greater than 10 was 5.9%. And the incidence of HCC was 0.6% [1/170] with a 95% confidence interval. The main risk factor for HCC was HCV infection in TM patients, but it was iron activity in TI patients. Iron chelation with DFO appeared to play a Protective role