Background and study aim: In Egypt, breast cancer, representing 18.9% of total cancer cases and 35.1% of cancer in women. Potential interactions between the liver and chemotherapy fall into direct chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity and Potentiation of preexisting liver disease, especially viral hepatitis.The aim of the study is to assess liver morbidity in breast cancer patients before and 3 months after chemotherapy to assess reactivation of viral hepatitis.
Subjects and Methods: This study is prospective study; It included 88 female patients who received chemotherapy for breast cancer.
Results: Before chemotherapy 9 patients (10.2%) & 11 patients (12.5%) had elevated ALT & AST respectively which increased after chemotherapy to 32 patients (36.4%) & 29 patients (33%) respectively. Two patients (2.3%) had low serum albumin which increased after chemotherapy to 18 patients (20.5%). None of the patients had elevated S. bilirubin, ascites or jaundice, while after chemotherapy 10 patients (11.4%) had elevated S. bilirubin, 5 patients (5.6%) and 6 patients (6.8%) developed ascites and jaundice respectively. Regarding Child score: None of the patients had Child B/C score before treatment, while after chemotherapy 6 patients (6.8%) developed Child B/C score. Regarding viral hepatitis, 2 of ten patients (20%) who were HBcIgG positive, HBsAg negative with undetectable HBV DNA by PCR developed evidence of HBV reactivation in form of positive PCR for both & reversion of HBsAg for one patient.
Conclusion: Chemotherapy for breast cancer carries high risk for hepatotoxicity and reactivation of viral hepatitis.