Does HCV Prevalence in Blood Donors Reflects the Incidence in General Population? A Study for Global Impact

Afzal, Muhammad Sohail

doi:10.4172/1948-5964.1000164

Cited by 2 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…Although the country is endemic for these infections but data regarding the prevalence of HBV and HCV in general population is very low [14]. The major transmission factors in Pakistan are unsafe blood transmission, injection drug usage, unsafe medical and dental procedures, treatment by quacks, barber's shops, unsafe sex practices and lack of education in general community [15][16][17]. Pakistan is a country with more than 200 million inhabitants.…”

Section: Letter To the Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan: An Insight into Future

Afzal¹

2017

J Cancer Sci Ther

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Carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent type of cancer across the world and constitutes around 7% of all cancers. Approximately 750,000 new cases of liver cancer are reported per year globally [1,2]. The incidence of HCC increases with age and is highest in people aged around 70 years [2]. The distribution and onset of HCC varies significantly in different geographical regions of the world, might be due to causative factors and genetic makeup of the inhabitants. Among the risk factors for HCC, Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are well-known and their role is well established. Majority of HCC are viral borne and HBV/HCV are the main culprits behind 80% HCC globally [1]. Infection with HBV and HCV is one of the prominent source of chronic liver infections worldwide. It is estimated that approximately 350 million individuals are HBV and 200 million individuals are HCV carriers globally [3,4].Although the knowledge about the molecular virology of these viruses is well established, the molecular mechanism from acute infection to HCC development are still not well known. The research data showed that HCC is a typical inflammation-related cancer but the exact mechanism is still not clear. Viral induced liver injury is mainly due to human immune response against viruses and there is no evidence that viral replication plays any role in liver injury directly [5]. T cells are recruited to liver during the acute stage of HBV and HCV infection. These cells are the key players in anti-viral immune response and help for resolution of infection as well as prevents development of chronic infection. However, there are studies supporting the role of these T cells in liver injury during HBV and HCV infection [6,7]. In liver injury the pathological process resulted into hostile environment which leads to survival of intrahepatic stem cells, also known as hepatic progenitor cells (in humans) rather than the regenerated hepatocytes. Abnormal dedifferentiation of hepatic progenitor cells during HBV/HCV infection under the influence of immune cells and certain cytokines, may lead to the tumorigenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma [8,9].Pakistan is a country with very high burden of viral hepatitis. Available data showed that there are around nine million HBV [10] and 11 million HCV carriers in Pakistan [11,12]. It is difficult to study the natural history of these diseases. The asymptomatic infection, difficulty to ascertain exact time of infection onset, data collection from general population, different risk groups and persons with multiple risk factors make it more difficult to generalize the natural history of the disease to whole country or whole population. However, it can be estimated that around 5% to 10% of chronic virally infected individuals develop HCC [13]. In recent years HBV infection goes down probably due to massive vaccination campaign by Government but the burden of HCV is on raise. Although the country is endemic for these infections but data regarding the prevalence of HBV and ...

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Section: Letter To the Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan: An Insight into Future

Afzal¹

2017

J Cancer Sci Ther

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“…Several studies are being conducted in Pakistan showing high viral infectious burden ultimately or not leading to HCC [1]. In Pakistan, prevalence of HCV is 4.5-8.0% ranking Pakistan second highest with HCV burden [13][14][15][16][17].…”

Section: Letter To Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The major risk factors for viral hepatitis transmission are the reuse of syringes in health centres and unsterilized instruments especially in orthodontics, untested blood transfusions, injection drug users (IDUs'), infected razors used for shaving, tattooing, piercing with infected needles, occupational risks like sex workers, healthcare workers etc. and last but not the least through spouse [13][14][15][16][17][18]. Chronic HCV develops cirrhosis which leads to HCC while HBV has a different behaviour towards developing HCC.…”

Section: Letter To Editormentioning

confidence: 99%

Sexual Dimorphism of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan

Sohail¹,

Afzal²

2017

J Antivir Antiretrovir

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Does HCV Prevalence in Blood Donors Reflects the Incidence in General Population? A Study for Global Impact

Cited by 2 publications

References 27 publications

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan: An Insight into Future

Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan: An Insight into Future

Sexual Dimorphism of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Pakistan

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