Serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Italian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
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.
Sbolli
G
G
First Medical Division, Hospital of Piacenza, Milan, Italy.
Zanetti
A R
AR
Tanzi
E
E
Cavanna
L
L
Civardi
G
G
Fornari
F
F
Di Stasi
M
M
Buscarini
L
L
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
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens