title: Prevalence and outcomes of HBV and anti-HCV seropositive patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The prevalences of serological markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were determined in 168 patients (135 males and 33 females), aged 19-79 years (mean = 50.8) in Thailand. Of these, 33 had chronic persistent hepatitis, 35 chronic active hepatitis, 50 cirrhosis and 50 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Seromarkers for either HBV or anti-HCV or both were detected in 140 (83.3%), 3 (1.8%) and 18 (10.7%) patients, respectively, but 7 (4.2%) were sero-negative for both viruses. The overall prevalence of anti-HCV was 12.5% but was significantly lower in HCC (2%) compared to the other 3 groups of liver disease (12-21.5%, p less than or equal to 0.05) and in HBsAg positive (5%) compared to HBsAg negative (30%) patients (p less than 0.001). After 0.5-9 years follow-up of all anti-HCV positive patients, 2 died and another 6 had progressive liver disease. The prevalence of coexistent HBV seromarkers was similar in patients with a progressive (87.5%) and a stable clinical course (92.3%) (p = 0.62). A higher proportion of the anti-HCV-positive patients with a progressive course had a history of blood transfusion [75.0% vs 46.1% (p = 0.20)]. These findings suggest that HBV is the most important etiologic virus associated with chronic liver disease and HCC in Thailand, but HCV may play a role particularly in HBsAg-negative patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pramoolsinsap
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumalnop
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Busagorn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kurathong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008107:Liver Diseases / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens