Lipid profile among cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma in Upper Egypt

Journal of the Arab Society for Medical Research 2012, 7:33–37 Background/aim An impaired lipid metabolism is often observed in patients with chronic liver diseases. This study was carried out to determine the lipid profile in cirrhotic patients with and without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and to determine whether it relates to the severity of cirrhosis in Upper Egypt. Patients and methods In an analytical cross-sectional study, 74 patients with cirrhosis and 36 patients with cirrhosis and HCC (cases) and 65 age-matched and sex-matched healthy individuals (control) were studied from the Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology Department and Internal Medicine Department, Assiut University Hospital. For all the participants, the following was carried out: clinical evaluation, abdominal ultrasound (US) examination, and laboratory investigations including the lipid profile [total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL)]. Results In cirrhotic patients with and without HCC, there was a significant decrease in serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL, and HDL levels compared with the control group. Comparison of the lipid profile with the severity of cirrhosis indicated that serum cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL but not HDL levels decreased linearly with progression of liver damage (Child C vs. Child A). The HDL level was significantly lower in cirrhotic patients with HCC than in cirrhotic patients without HCC. Conclusion The lipid profile (total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL, and LDL levels) is impaired in cirrhotic patients with and without HCC. The lipid profile (but not HDL) is inversely correlated with the severity of cirrhosis. The HDL level is significantly lower in cirrhotic patients with HCC than in cirrhotic patients without HCC.