Hbs Ag And Antibodies To Hepatitis C Virus In Complicated Chronic Liver Disease In Gabon. A Case Control Study

Background and objective - The prevalence of HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies are high in the general population in Gabon. The aim of this study was to perform a case control study to determine the role of hepatitis B and C viruses in decompensated cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.Methods - Between October 1990 and June 1998, HBs Ag and anti-HCV antibodies were investigated in 1 204 newly hospitalized patients. Sixty-seven had clecompensated cirrhosis, 38 had hepatocellular carcinoma and six an association of both diseases. Prevalences were compared with those in a group of 527 sex and age matched controls from the some cohort.Results - HBs Ag prevalence among cases was 35.1% (clecompensated cirrhosis: 34.2%; hepatocellular carcinoma: 40.5%) and 12.5% among controls. Anti-HCV were detected in 32.4% of cases (clecompensated cirrhosis: 34.2%; hepotocellutor carcinoma: 28.6%) and in 20.7% of controls, Complicated chronic liver disease was linked to HBs Ag (OR = 11.3; IC:.4.8-26.7; cirrhosis: OR = 18; IC: 5.3-61.5; hepatocellular carcinoma: OR = 8.3; IC: 2.5-27.8) in patients from 75 to 3,4 years old, Above 45 years, complicated chronic liver disease was linked to anti-HCV antibodies (OR = 2.9; IC: 1.6-5.3; cirrhosis: OR = 2,8; IC: 1.4-5.8; hepatocellular carcinoma: OR = 3.2; IC: 1.1 -9.5).Conclusion - Both Hepatitis B and C viruses are linked to complicated chronic liver disease in Gabon in an age-dependent manner.