Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Italian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
A sensitive radioimmunoassay was used to detect antibodies to hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma and chronic hepatitis. HCV antibodies (anti-HCV) were detected in 86 of 132 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma with no relation to the presence or absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The prevalence of anti-HCV was also high in patients with diseases thought to predispose to hepatocellular carcinoma, such as non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis (74%). In HBsAg-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma the prevalence of anti-HCV was lower than that in patients with non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis (16% vs 55%); the prevalence of serum antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc), a marker of hepatitis B virus infection, was 70% and 28%, respectively. In HBsAg-negative patients with hepatocellular carcinoma, anti-HCV and anti-HBc occurred together nearly three times as often as in patients with chronic hepatitis (54% vs 19%). These data indicate that, in Italy, HCV is an important factor associated with hepatocellular carcinoma and non-A, non-B chronic hepatitis.
Colombo
M
M
Institute of Internal Medicine, University of Milan, Italy.
Kuo
G
G
Choo
Q L
QL
Donato
M F
MF
Del Ninno
E
E
Tommasini
M A
MA
Dioguardi
N
N
Houghton
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens