Metabolic syndrome may be an important risk factor for HCC

Nonhepatitis B and nonhepatitis C viral (NBNC)- hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased rapidly over the last few years, according to new data. In addition, researchers noted that metabolic syndrome may be an important risk factor in HCC.

The medical records of 2171 patients with HCC were reviewed and divided according to their date of diagnosis (1992 to 2009 and 2010 to 2018).

Overall, 24.6% (n = 514) had NBNC-HCC. In 2009, 26.5% of patients with HCC had NBNC-HCC compared with 46.3% in 2018. The median ages of patients with NBNC-HCC were 67 to 73 years. The researchers noted a recent significant increase in type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.

Hepatic resection occurred in 15% of patients due to nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), 29% due to alcoholic liver disease, and 56% due to cryptogenic hepatitis. Of the patients with NASH, ALD, and cryptogenic hepatitis, cirrhosis was detected in 72%, 39%, and 16%, respectively.

Reference
Nagaoki Y, Hyogo H, Ando Y, et al. Increasing incidence of non-HBV- and non-HCV-related hepatocellular carcinoma: single-institution 20-year study. BMC Gastroenterol. 2021; https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-021-01884-5.