Aflatoxin Exposure and Viral Hepatitis in Cirrhotic Somalian and EgyptianPatients

Abstract

irrhosis of the liver is thought to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, but no controlled studies on the etiology of cirrhosis have been conducted in this region. Dietary exposure to aflatoxin, primarily through ingestion of contaminated maize and groundnuts (peanuts), is also widespread largely because of the lack of clinical and research infrastructure, Rigorous investigation into the etiology and characteristics of chronic liver disease in sub-Saharan Africa has been limited. Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) is endemic in sub-Saharan Africa, and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is also present (Kuniholm MH1, et all 2008). This study is aimed to find out the relation between Aflatoxin B1, hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in cirrhotic patients. Fourty patients with liver cirrhosis were included in this study and divided into two groups: - Group1: patients with cirrhosis from Somalia - Group2: patients with liver cirrhosis from Egypt

Twenty healthy subjects (10 Somalian, 10 Egyptian) were used as control. All participants were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory testing and abdominal U/S as well as measurements of serum AFT B1, HBV and HCV. The result of this work hasindicated thatcirrhotic Somalian patientshad higher levels of AFTB1compared tocontrol subjects, which increase the susceptibility relationship between AFT B1 and liver cirrhosis. The tests also revealed that the Somalian group had higher rates of AFTB1 levels than the Egyptian group. Age was also a factor in the AFTB1 levels.The levels increasing with age.