Contribution of Aflatoxin B₁ Exposure to Liver Cirrhosis in Eastern Ethiopia: A Case-Control Study

Liver cirrhosis is a global health problem due to a large number of disability-associated life years and mortality. However, evidence is scarce on its causes in Eastern-Ethiopia, a place where there is a high prevalence of liver cirrhosis of unknown etiology. This study attempted to identify the risk factors related to liver cirrhosis in the area.

A case-control study was conducted at a tertiary care hospital from January 2020 to July 2021. Following diagnoses using an ultrasound-based cirrhosis scale, a total of 127 cases were identified and compared with 253 control patients. A structured questionnaire and data abstraction form were used to collect demographic, lifestyle, and clinical information. A blood sample was also taken from each participant for clinical chemistry, hepatitis B virus (HBV), and hepatitis C virus tests as well as for an aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁) albumin adduct (AF-alb) assay. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to determine predictors of liver cirrhosis.

AF-alb levels were detected in 75% of the cases and 64% of the controls, with a median (IQR) level of 11 pg/mg (5.5-25) and 7.0 pg/mg (4.3-20.5), respectively (p<0.05). Moreover, the number of subjects with high AF-alb levels (≥8.6 pg/mg) was greater in cases (45%, p<0.05)) than controls (28%). Age ≥55 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=0.4; 95% CI: 0.2, 0.8), being a farmer (AOR= 3.0; 95% CI: 1.5, 6.0), family history of liver disease (AOR= 2.9; 95% CI: 1.1, 7.9), HBV seropositivity (AOR=4.0; 95% CI: 1.9, 8.8), and exposure to high levels of AF-alb (AOR=2.0; 95% CI: 1.1, 3.7) were significantly associated with liver cirrhosis.

This study found a strong link between AFB₁ exposure and liver cirrhosis. Mitigation of aflatoxin exposure and a better understanding of additional environmental risk factors like pesticides may be necessary to reduce the disease burden in Ethiopia.