Tariq Parvez, Muhammad Saeed Anwar.
Factors other than Hepatitis B Virus responsible for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in lower social class.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;12(5):268-70.

Objective: To find out the role of other etiological agents besides hepatitis B virus in the genesis of Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in our social classes. . Design: A hospital-based observational study. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Oncology Department of Services Hospital, Lahore from December 1997 to February 2001. Patients and Methods: One hundred patients of hepatocellular carcinoma were divided into three groups based on monthly income. Lower socioeconomic group had monthly income less than 3,000 Pakistani rupees, middle socioeconomic group had monthly income between 3,000-10,000 Pakistani rupees and upper socioeconomic group had monthly income of more than 10,000 Pakistani rupees. Percentages of HCC patients positive for HBsAg in different socioeconomic groups in our population were compared to assess the social class difference, the possibility and correlation of other factors present in our classes for the formation of hepatocellular carcinoma besides hepatitis B virus. Results: We found that there was no significant difference in HBsAg positivity in different classes. Conclusion: If HBV was only responsible for this disease than there should have been consistency in the outcome. But as there is a higher prevalence of HCC in poor class, this reflects that other etiological agents are also operating. This needs further evaluation.

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