title: Hepatitis B virus infection markers in genetic haemochromatosis. A study of 272 patients.
abstract: Serum hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection markers were studied in 272 patients with homozygous genetic haemochromatosis complicated (n = 33) or not (n = 239) with primary liver cancer (PLC). Controls consisted of 255 029 healthy blood donors from whom age- and sex-matched control groups were extracted for statistical evaluation using the Fisher exact test. In blood donors, HBsAg was positive in 0.075% of males and 0.04% of females. This population was not screened for anti-Hbs. Anti-Hbc alone (without HBsAg) was present in 3.7% of men and 1.8% of women. In patients with genetic haemochromatosis without liver cancer (183 males, 45.6 +/- 11.3 yrs and 56 women, 48 +/- 12.4 yrs), HBsAg was found in 1.1% of men and in none of the women. Anti-HBs was present in 7.3% of males and 1.8% of females. Anti-HBc alone was found in 13% of males (p less than 0.005 vs. controls) and 2.1% of females. From male patients with primary liver cancer complicating genetic haemochromatosis (32 males, 61.7 +/- 6.8 yrs and one female), 6.2% were HBsAg positive, 3.4% were anti-HBs positive and 16.6% anti-HBc positive (p = 0.05 vs. controls). No serum HBV marker was found in the woman. In conclusion, the prevalence of HBV infection markers--especially anti-HBc--is significantly increased in patients with genetic haemochromatosis complicated or not with primary liver cancer.
authors.affiliation: Clinique des Maladies du Foie, and INSERM U49, CHRU, Hôpital Pontchaillou, Rennes, France.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deugnier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Battistelli
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jouanolle
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Guyader
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gueguen
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Loréal
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jacquelinet
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bourel
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brissot
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001782:Blood Donors; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006432:Hemochromatosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012727:Sex Characteristics
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens