Baddour et al. observed a significant positive correlation between IGF-2 expression and the inflammatory stage.28 This is in accordance with the findings of Grisham, which revealed that an increased IGF-2 level results from the combined actions of cytokines produced by chronic inflammatory cells from damaged liver and viral transactivation in chronic hepatitis.29 In this respect, the findings of the present study suggest that the investigated fishermen group may suffer from progressive hepatitis, seriously affecting their health. Here, IGF2 is linked to hepatitis A virus infection.