Assessment of Helicobacter Pylori Status and Serum Gastrin Level as Risk Factors for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with HCV-Related Liver Cirrhosis

Introduction: Assessment of H. pylori infection and related alteration of serum gastrin levels with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in HCV-related liver cirrhosis is still debated. Aims: Our study aims to assess H. Pylori status in HCV-related liver cirrhosis and to find out its impact on the development of HCC in these patients from our community. Patients & Methods: The current study included 60 subjects. They were divided into two groups, thirty patients with HCV-related cirrhotic patients with HCC (Case group) Group (1) and thirty patients with HCV-related cirrhotic patients without HCC (Control group) Group (2). Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic assessment between the 2 groups for comparison and detection is there is a role of H. pylori, Gastrin hormone level, or Cag A toxin antigen in pathogenesis or development of HCC in patients with HCV-related cirrhosis. Results: There was a statistically significant increase in gastrin level among H pylori +ve cases compared to –ve cases. With no statistically significant difference between HCC and non-HCC H. pylori +ve cases (P value=0.17). Patients complicated with HCC had a higher frequency of H. pylori seropositivity than patients without HCC (76.7% Vs 60%, respectively), There was an increase in Cag A toxin level among the HCC group compared to the Non-HCC group but it was statistically insignificant (P value= 0.07). Conclusions: H. Pylori infection is common in patients with HCV-related liver cirrhosis with no impact on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma.