Search in the Literature for Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Iran

authors:

avatar Ali Kabir 1 , *

Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran
Hepatitis Monthly: Vol.13, issue 4; e9172
published online: April 29, 2013
article type: Letter
received: November 17, 2012
accepted: December 20, 2012
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.9172

how to cite: Kabir A. Search in the Literature for Viral Hepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Iran. Hepat Mon. 2013;13(4):e9172. https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.9172.

Dear Editor,

I read with interest a nice paper by Zidan et al. about viral hepatitis as etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Iran and the world (1). They have presented useful information. However, maybe these comments can add some more information specifically about the Iranian literature. They have searched some databases. However, other useful sites like Scientific information Database (SID), Iranian Research Institute for Information Science and Technology (IRANDOC), Iranian Data Bank of Hepatitis Research and Iranian Data Bank of GI Cancer Research, are also available which first two ones are general scientific and two last sites are specific about gastroenterology. Scopus and Web of Science should also be considered. Although, these sites have overlap with mentioned databases in the paper; however, their importance is that they cover some parts of the literature which are not covered by other national or international databases. The importance of these sites is also because of Grey (unpublished/unavailable) literature. There are new systematic reviews and meta-analyses about epidemiology of HBV (2) and HCV (3) in general population and hemodialysis patients (4) of Iran which are available in Scopus and Web of Science; but, are not cited in such review article. These papers present better image from total prevalence of viral hepatitis in the country. At least the level of endemicity of the country has been shown more precisely and the knowledge gap in the field can also be determined. It seems that their search is not sufficiently thorough and comprehensive, at least about Iran.

References

  • 1.

    Zidan A, Scheuerlein H, Schule S, Settmacher U, Rauchfuss F. Epidemiological pattern of hepatitis B and hepatitis C as etiological agents for hepatocellular carcinoma in iran and worldwide. Hepat Mon. 2012;12(10 HCC). e6894. [PubMed ID: 23233864]. https://doi.org/10.5812/hepatmon.6894.

  • 2.

    Alavian SM, Hajarizadeh B, Ahmadzad-Asl M, Kabir A, Bagheri Lankarani K. Hepatitis B Virus infection in Iran: A systematic review. Hepat Mon. 2008;4(3):281-94.

  • 3.

    Alavian SM, Ahmadzad-Asl M, Bagheri Lankarani K, Shahbabaie MA, Bahrami Ahmadi A, K A. Hepatitis C infection in the general population of Iran: a systematic review. Hepat Mon. 2009;9(3):211-23.

  • 4.

    Alavian SM, Kabir A, Ahmadi AB, Lankarani KB, Shahbabaie MA, Ahmadzad-Asl M. Hepatitis C infection in hemodialysis patients in Iran: a systematic review. Hemodial Int. 2010;14(3):253-62. [PubMed ID: 20491973]. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1542-4758.2010.00437.x.