Seroconversion from HBs-Ag to anti-HBs in a case of liver cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma.
This paper reports a case of liver cirrhosis associated with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of a woman who was converted from hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs-Ag) positive to antibody against HBs-Ag (anti-HBs) positive in the serum through an immunoregulatory steroid rebound phenomenon. The histology of the biopsy specimen taken before the seroconversion showed an early stage of liver cirrhosis with moderate infiltration of mononuclear cells. At autopsy about 3 years after the seroconversion, the liver tissue free of the tumor was in an early stage of liver cirrhosis. Fibrosis did not advance as compared with the biopsy specimen. In addition, mononuclear cell infiltration decreased remarkably and piecemeal necrosis disappeared after the seroconversion. The immunohistologic examination of hepatocytes demonstrated that positive stainings for HBs-Ag and for hepatitis B core antigen (HBc-Ag) in the biopsy specimen turned to be negative in the autopsy specimen. These facts indicate that the steroid rebound phenomenon eliminated free hepatitis B virus (HBV) in the hepatocytes in the absence of massive necrosis of hepatocytes. HBV-DNA integration was proved in the genome of HCC by molecular hybridization method.
D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology* / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D011241:Prednisone