Association of hepatocellular carcinoma with hepatic viral markers B and C among Yemenis patients at Althawra hospital Sana'a

This study aims to study the characteristics of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and its association with hepatitis viral markers Cross sectional study of 54 patients with proved HCC on liver biopsy attending Al Thawra teaching hospital from 1[st] May 2004 31[st] Dec. 2007. The patients were studied for age, sex, residence, occupation, and symptoms. Alfa fetoprotein, abdominal ultrasound, doppler study and viral markers were tested for. Fifty four patients were included in the study 43 were males with a male female ratio of 4:1. The maximum age group affected was 40-60 years, they were mainly farmers and mostly from Taiz governorate. Weight loss was the commonest symptoms affecting 45 [83.3%] patients, followed by jaundice 42 [78%] patients. The majority of patients had cirrhosis 46 [85.2%], ascites was found in 41 [75.9%] patients. Almost all patients had low serum albumin level. HBV infection was obtained in 30 [55.5%] patients, HCV in 15 [27.6%] patients. Five [9.25%] patients were reacting for both viruses. High alfa fetoprotein above 400 u was reported in 16 [29.6%] patients. HCC is a frequently encountered tumor in the country, majority of the cases are due to hepatitis B virus infection, followed by hepatitis C virus. So preventive measures could help in reducing HCC in Yemen