Prevalence of hepatitis B viral infection among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma attending Muhimbili National Hospital Dar es salaam Tanzania

Abstract

Background: The Global burden of HBV related HCC is still a major challenge for public health in the 21st century, especially in the endemic regions due to unavailability of early diagnostic techniques and treatment. Worldwide 450 million individuals are reported to be chronic carriers of HBV, accounting for 55% of global cases of HCC 80% 0f which are found in the sub-saharan Africa. Despite, high magnitude of HBV related HCC in Africa and the world at large, no data from Tanzania is available to address magnitude of HBV among patients with HCC. Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Hepatitis B viral infection among patients with hepatocellular carcinoma attending Muhimbili national hospital in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was done for a period of 9 months, June 2012 through February 2013. During this period patients attending inpatients and outpatients gastroenterology department with the diagnosis of HCC were enrolled and screened for Hepatitis B virus. The evaluation included risk factor assessment, clinical assessment, Abdominal ultra-sound, FNAC of the liver, determination of serology for Hepatitis B (HBsAg) by ELISA. Results: In this study the prevalence of HBV among 90 patients with HCC was 68.9%, observed most commonly among age group 30-60 years, with male to female ratio of 2.7:1. Majority of the participant with HCC the most frequent reported clinical features included Generalize body malaise (98.9%), sweat (97.8%), weight loss (97.8%), loss of appetite (80%), yellowish discolouration of the eyes (63.3%) and abdominal pains (52.2%). Conclusion: This study revealed high prevalence of HBV among patients with HCC and the highest prevalence of the disease was found among patients aged between 30-60 years suggesting early childhood exposure to HBV. Therefore early screening and treatment of chronic active HBV infection is recommended in order to reduce the magnitude of HCC in our setting.