title: Hepatitis B and C viral infections in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: The prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections was studied in 70 patients diagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to viral serological markers, serum hepatitis B virus DNA and hepatitis C virus RNA were determined with a nested polymerase chain reaction assay. Twelve patients (17%) were HBsAg positive, 26 (37%) had antibodies to HBs, HBc or both and 32 (46%) were negative for all hepatitis B virus serological markers. Prevalence of the antibody to hepatitis C virus was 63% (44 patients). Hepatitis B virus DNA was detected in 24 of the 66 tested patients (36%). Twelve of these hepatitis B virus DNA-positive patients were HBsAg negative (seven were positive for antibody to HBs, antibody to HBc or both and five were negative for all hepatitis B virus serological markers). Hepatitis C virus RNA was found in 42 of 68 patients (62%). A high correlation (95%) existed between hepatitis C virus RNA and hepatitis C virus antibodies. Nevertheless, two patients without antibody to hepatitis C virus had serum hepatitis C virus RNA sequences. Coinfection by the two viruses was detected in nine subjects (14%), but no clinical differences were found between these and the rest of the patients. We conclude that nearly 90% (62 of the 70 patients studied) of cases of hepatocellular carcinoma in our geographical area are related to hepatitis virus infections (detected by serological or molecular studies). Hepatitis C is more prevalent than hepatitis B virus in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, and the infection is still active when the tumor is diagnosed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Universidad de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sangro
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Cuende
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Beloqui
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Riezu-Boj
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Herrero
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Prieto
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001483:Base Sequence; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies