Does hepatitis C virus infection contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma in Hong Kong?
BACKGROUND
Hong Kong has a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and, because it is an endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the etiologic association between HCC and HBV infection is reported to be as high as 80%. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recently was shown to be a possible pathogenetic agent for HCC in a number of countries.


METHODS
To assess the relative importance of these two viruses in HCC in Hong Kong, a retrospective study of 424 Chinese patients with HCC was performed.


RESULTS
Three hundred forty-one (80.3%) patients were found to be carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Hepatitis C antibodies (anti-HCV) were detected in 31 patients (7.3%). Fifteen patients with positive findings for anti-HCV had concurrent HBV infection, 11 had serologic evidence of previous HBV infection, and only 5 patients had anti-HCV marker alone. Patients with positive findings for anti-HCV were older than those with HBsAg (mean ages, 60 and 53 years, respectively). A higher preponderance of male patients was found in the HBsAg-positive group; the male to female ratio was 11:1, compared with 7:1 among patients with anti-HCV. Anti-HCV was detected in 0.64% of 175 age-matched and sex-matched controls.


CONCLUSIONS
These data indicate a possible causal role of HCV infection in HCC, but it is of relatively minor epidemiologic significance in Hong Kong, where HBV infection is overwhelming.
Leung
N W
NW
Department of Medicine, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin.
Tam
J S
JS
Lai
J Y
JY
Leung
T W
TW
Lau
W Y
WY
Shiu
W
W
Li
A K
AK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens