Sohail Iqbal, Rao Salman Aziz, Rehana Mukhtar, Farwa Naqvi, Maheen Rana.
Viral Hepatitits; Diabetics patients Infected with Hepatitis B Or C Virus; Metformin Intake is Associated with Decreased Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma.
Professional Med J Jan ;25(3):400-8.

Objectives: Diabetes mellitus has been shown to be an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma in populations at risk. Different anti-diabetic drugs have been shown to have different effects on incidence of cancers in diabetic patients. Data Source: Outpatient and inpatient hospital records as well as fresh cases. Design of Study: Hospital based retrospective case control study. Setting: DHQ, Sargodha. Period: Fifteen years (10 years retrospective, 5 years prospective, from the starting date of study). Materials & Methods: In a hospital based study we recorded the incidence of HCC in patients otherwise considered to be at risk. We also observed whether anti-diabetic monotherapy has any effects on HCC occurrence in our target population. Results: We found out that incidence of HCC in diabetic patients with a concomitant HBV or HCV infection was at least 1.5 times higher than non-diabetic hepatitis patients. The incidence of HCC reduced in patients using metformin as compared to sulfonylureas. Conclusion: Diabetes is an independent risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma and metformin use is correlated with reduced HCC occurrence in risk groups.

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