Liver cancer risk is increased in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda in comparison to matched control patients with chronic liver disease

Anna Ludovica Fracanzani, Emanuela Taioli, Maurizio Sampietro, Erika Fatta, Cristina Bertelli, Gemino Fiorelli, Silvia Fargion

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

68 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background/Aims: Patients with porphyria and chronic liver disease could be at high risk of developing hepatocellular carcinoma. To define the incidence of primary liver cancer and identify variables associated with the risk of cancer in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda in comparison to control patients. Methods: Fifty-three patients with porphyria cutanea tarda were enrolled in a prospective study (median follow-up 72 ± 54.1 months; range 12-216) and matched individually to a control case according to age (±5 years), sex, duration of follow up (±5 years), severity of liver disease, and hepatitis C virus infection. Results: During follow-up hepatocellular carcinoma developed in 18 patients with porphyria and in four control patients. Incidence of primary liver cancer was 4.8 and 1.3 × 100 patients/year in the overall series of patients and of controls, respectively. The cumulative probability of being tumor free was significantly lower in porphyria cutanea tarda than in matched controls (75 vs 95%). Variables independently associated with the risk of liver cancer were the presence of porphyria and cirrhosis at enrolment (Odds ratios: 5.3, 95% CI 1.4-19.3 and 3.0, 95% CI 1.2-7.6, respectively). Conclusions: Patients with porphyria are at higher risk of developing liver cancer than matched control patients.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)498-503
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Hepatology
Volume35
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Hepatitis C virus infection
  • Hepatocellular carcinoma
  • Iron

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Liver cancer risk is increased in patients with porphyria cutanea tarda in comparison to matched control patients with chronic liver disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this