Frequency of hepatic HBV-DNA in patients with cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma: relation to serum HBV markers.
As part of a larger study designed to investigate the interaction of factors such as cirrhosis and hepatitis B virus infection as aetiological agents in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma, we investigated the status of hepatic HBV-DNA sequences in 156 cirrhotic patients. Forty-one were HBsAg seropositive and 18 (44%) of these had HBV-DNA sequences detectable in their livers. There are also 26 subjects who showed markers of a previous HBV infection (anti-HBs/anti-HBc), only one (4%) of whom had demonstrable hepatic HBV-DNA sequences. No sequences were found in any of the remaining 89 patients who were seronegative for all markers. Thus, liver HBV-DNA was only detected in the presence of a serum marker, usually HBsAg.
White
Y S
YS
Liver Unit, King's College Hospital School of Medicine and Dentistry, London, UK.
Johnson
P J
PJ
Davison
F
F
Williams
R
R
D001706:Biopsy; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000032:analysis* / Q000473:pathology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000382:microbiology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens