title: Hepatitis B virus infection and hepatocellular carcinoma: correlation between IgM antibody to hepatitis B core antigen, hepatitis B e antigen, and hepatitis B DNA.
abstract: Sera from 102 black patients with primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) and hepatitis B surface antigenemia were tested for immunoglobulin M antibody against hepatitis B core (IgM anti-HBc), hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg), and hepatitis B viral (HBV) DNA. Their prevalences were compared to those of a control group of 124 age and sex matched black HBV carriers without tumor. IgM anti-HBc was present in 68.6%, HBeAg in 32.3%, and HBV-DNA in 26.7% of the patients. In the control population, IgM anti-HBc was present in 45%, HBeAg was detected in 3.2%, and HBV-DNA in 25.8%. We conclude that IgM anti-HBc is present appreciably more often than either HBeAg or HBV-DNA in patients with PHC. HBeAg or IgM anti-HBc in serum of HBsAg positive carriers may predict an added risk of PHC development in South African blacks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virus Diseases, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Sjogren
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Dusheiko
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kew
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044383:Black People; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D002353:Carrier State / Q000276:immunology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000032:analysis; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013019:South Africa
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D006513:Hepatitis B e Antigens; D007075:Immunoglobulin M