Etiology of Liver Cirrhosis in Mexico

Background: In the last decades it has been suggested that the main cause of liver cirrhosis in Mexico is alcohol. Currently in Western countries hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is one of the leading causes of endstage liver disease and liver transplantation. In Mexico, we have no data relative to the etiology of liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the main causes of liver cirrhosis in Mexico. Methods: Eight hospitals located in different areas of the country were invited to participate in this study. Those hospitals provide health care to different social classes of the country. The inclusion criteria were the presence of either an histological or a clinical and biochemical diagnosis of liver cirrhosis. Results: A total of 1,486 cases were included in this study. The etiology of liver cirrhosis was alcohol in 587 (39.5%), HCV 544 (36.6%), cryptogenic 154 (10.4%), PBC 84 (5.7), HBV 75 (5.0%) and other 42 (2.8). There was not statistical difference between alcohol and HCV. Conclusions: We conclude that the main causes of liver cirrhosis in Mexico are alcohol and HCV.