Korean J Gastroenterol.  2014 May;63(5):292-298. 10.4166/kjg.2014.63.5.292.

Clinical Features of Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Cryptogenic Hepatocellular Carcinoma

• Rim MY
• Kwon OS
• Ha M
• Kim JS
• Ko KI
• Kim DK
• Jang PK
• Han JY
• Park PH
• Jung YK
• Choi DJ
• Kim YS
• Kim JH

• KMID: 2155327
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4166/kjg.2014.63.5.292

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) may be one of the important causes of cryptogenic hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patients with cryptogenic HCC share clinical features similar to that of NAFLD.
METHODS
Cryptogenic HCC was defined as HCC that occurs in patients with the following conditions: HBsAg(-), anti-HCV(-), and alcohol ingestion of less than 20 g/day. All patients diagnosed with cryptogenic HCC from 2005 to 2012 (cryptogenic HCC group), and all patients diagnosed with HBV associated HCC between 2008 and 2012 (HBV-HCC group) were enrolled in the present study. Clinical features, BMI, lipid profiles, presence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome were compared between the two groups.
RESULTS
Cryptogenic HCC group was composed of 35 patients (19 males and 16 females) with a mean age of 70+/-11 years. HBV-HCC group was composed of 406 patients (318 males and 88 females) with a mean age of 56+/-7 years. Patients in the cryptogenic HCC group were older (p=0.001) and female dominant (p=0.042) than those in the HBV-HCC group. There were no differences in the laboratory test results including lipid profiles and Child-Turcotte-Pugh class between the two groups. Patients in the cryptogenic HCC group had higher prevalence of diabetes (37% vs. 17%, p=0.015), hypertension (49% vs. 27%, p=0.051), metabolic syndrome (37% vs. 16%, p=0.001), and higher BMI (25.3 kg/m2 vs. 24.1 kg/m2, p=0.042) than those in the HBV-HCC group. The tumor stage was more advanced (stage III and IV) at diagnosis in the cryptogenic HCC group than in the HBV-HCC group (60% vs. 37%, p=0.007).
CONCLUSIONS
Cryptogenic HCC has clinical features similar to that of NAFLD and is diagnosed at a more advanced tumor stage.

Keyword

Cryptogenic; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Metabolic syndrome; Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

MeSH Terms

Age Factors
Aged
Body Mass Index
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Mellitus/pathology
Female
Hepatitis B/complications
Humans
Hypertension/complications
Lipids/blood
Liver Neoplasms/*diagnosis/etiology/pathology
Male
Metabolic Syndrome X/complications
Middle Aged
Neoplasm Staging
Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/*diagnosis/pathology
Risk Factors
Severity of Illness Index
Sex Factors
Lipids

Reference

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