BOSTON, Nov 3, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- Hepatitis B does not increase the risk
of pancreatic cancer but age does, U.S. researchers say.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit say their study of more than
74,000 patients contradicts a previous study suggesting a link between
pancreatic cancer and previous hepatitis B infection. Hepatitis B is an
inflammation of the liver caused by a viral infection.
"We looked at the incidence of pancreatic cancer among hepatitis B-infected
patients over a 13-year period and found that we could not confirm a higher risk
for those with a previous exposure to hepatitis B, as a prior study suggested,"
study lead author Dr. Jeffrey Tang says in a statement.
Tang says when other factors are considered -- such as age, race, sex, HIV
status and the presence of diabetes -- only older age and presence of diabetes
prove significant. However, prior exposure to hepatitis B is no longer an
important variable.
The findings were presented in Boston at the American Association for the Study
of Liver Diseases annual meeting.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International