Abstract | OBJECTIVE:
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the elderly infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) is expected to increase globally within the next two decades. The purpose of the study was to define the natural history of elderly patients with chronic hepatitis C needs in order to prevent HCC from arising in these patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Treatment-naive patients aged >or=65 years with platelet counts >120 x 10(3)/mm(3) were classified as 120 with aspartate and alanine aminotransferase (ASAT and ALAT) levels <or=40 IU/l (group A) and 212 with either or both levels >or=41 (group B) and followed-up for 3 years or longer without antiviral treatment. RESULTS:
Cirrhosis and HCC developed more frequently in group B than in group A (p<0.001 for both). In particular, of the patients aged 65-69 years at entry, cirrhosis and HCC developed more frequently in group B than in group A (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). Liver-related causes of death were more common in group B than in group A (20/34 (59%) versus 1/9 (11%), p=0.021). HCC developed more frequently in men than in women (p=0.033). CONCLUSIONS:
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Authors | Mariko Kobayashi, Fumitaka Suzuki, Norio Akuta, Yoshiyuki Suzuki, Hitomi Sezaki, Hiromi Yatsuji, Yusuke Kawamura, Tetsuya Hosaka, Masahiro Kobayashi, Yasuji Arase, Kenji Ikeda, Rie Mineta, Satomi Iwasaki, Sachiyo Watahiki, Yuzo Miyakawa, Hiromitsu Kumada |
Journal | Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology
(Scand J Gastroenterol)
Vol. 44
Issue 8
Pg. 975-83
( 2009)
ISSN: 1502-7708 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 19521923
(Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Chemical References |
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
- Alanine Transaminase
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Topics |
- Alanine Transaminase
(blood)
- Aspartate Aminotransferases
(blood)
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
(blood, complications)
- Female
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
(blood, complications)
- Humans
- Liver Neoplasms
(blood, complications)
- Male
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