title: Serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Italian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) were detected in 60.8% of 78 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cirrhosis, present in most of the patients, as well as alcohol abuse, age, sex, and alpha-fetoprotein were equally distributed in the anti-HCV-positive and -negative groups. HBsAg positivity was significatively higher in negative anti-HCV group. By contrast, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies were detected more frequently in positive anti-HCV patients than in the negative anti-HCV group. These data must be considered with caution because of the small number of HBsAg-positive patients. It is concluded that the high prevalence of anti-HCV in patients with HCC may suggest an etiological role of the hepatitis C virus, although in relationship to age, alcohol abuse and cirrhosis, the similarity in the two groups questions this hypothesis.
authors.affiliation: First Medical Division, Hospital of Piacenza, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sbolli
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Zanetti
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tanzi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavanna
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Civardi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornari
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Di Stasi
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buscarini
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens