Hepatitis C Virus Infection is an Additive Risk Factor for Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Cirrhosis

The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether hepatitis C virus plays any role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. The role of age, sex, alcohol abuse, and infection by other hepatitic viruses, such as hepatitis B and Delta viruses, was also assessed. We found that mean age and male/female ratio were significantly higher in patients with HCC plus liver cirrhosis than in those with liver cirrhosis alone. Also, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be higher in HCC patients compared to cirrhotics. Further, by means of multiple logistic regression, we evaluated the independent role of each variable in the development of HCC. Age, male sex, and to a lesser degree, HCV infection, as assessed by anti-HCV positivity, were the only risk factors which significantly correlated with the development of HCC. Moreover, when age and sex were excluded from the statistical model, HCV infection, but not HBV, HDV, and alcohol abuse, appeared to be associated with HCC. In conclusion, based on these data, age and male sex are the most important factors for the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients. Hepatitis C virus, at least in the Mediterranean area, may play a role as an additive risk factor of HCC in patients suffering from liver cirrhosis.