|
hep c in asian american populations |
|
|
Hepatitis B is highly prevalent among
Asians and
Asian-Americans, but
hepatitis C in this population is less
well characterized. As described in the December 2006
American Journal of Gastroenterology,
researchers
conducted a retrospective survey to assess
the demographics, epidemiology,
and natural history of chronic
hepatitis C in Asian-Americans. The study
included 260 Asian-American chronic
HCV patients referred to a single tertiary
center in California.
Results
•
92% percent of the study participants
were born in Asia.
•51%
reported a history of unsafe therapeutic
injections.
•
Unsafe injection was a risk factor only
for those with HCV exposure
outside the
United States.
•41%
reported a history of blood transfusion,
which was more frequent
among those with
exposure within the Unites States.
•
Only 3.8% reported a history of
injection drug abuse, which was more
frequent among those with exposure
within the United States.
•64.2%
of patients had
HCV genotype 1, 18.3% had
genotype 2, and
11.3% had
genotype 6.
•Patients
with genotype 1 had a significantly
lower
sustained virological
response rate
to
interferon-based therapy, compared
to those with geno-
types 2 or 6 (32.8%,
77.8%, and 69.2%, respectively).
•During
a mean follow-up period of 6 years, 26
patients developed
hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
•
A logistic regression model revealed
that the following factors predicted
development of HCC:
- fibrosis stage 4 (OR 8.87);
- older age at presentation (55 vs 35
years: OR 3.45);
- baseline albumin level (3.0 vs 4.0 mg/dL:
OR 3.47).
Conclusion
"Asian-Americans with a history of unsafe
therapeutic injections must be screened
for chronic hepatitis C," the authors
recommended. "Antiviral treatment should
be init-
iated prior to development of
cirrhosis. Surveillance for HCC must be
routinely perform-
ed in cirrhosis
patients."
01/30/07
Reference
J T Cheng, C Hsien, H E Sun,
and others. The emerging importance of
chronic hepat-
itis C infection in Asian
Americans. American Journal of
Gastroenterology 101(12):
2737-2743.
December 2006.
HIVandHepatitis.com
Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 March 2008 ) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
