title: Hepatitis markers in Malaysians with hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: Sera from 80 Malaysians with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma were tested for five markers of the hepatitis B virus, anti-HCV and anti-HDV by enzyme immunoassay, and alpha fetoprotein (AFP) was measured by radioimmunoassay. Of the patients, 98.8% had evidence of HBV infection and 75% were positive for HBsAg--which latter correlated with AFP raised above cut-off values of 500 ng/ml (P = 0.0001) and 200 ng/ml (P = 0.005). Males correlated significantly with the presence of HBsAg (P = 0.002). Thirty-one per cent of HBsAg positive patients were also positive for HBeAg and 74% for anti-HBe. Twenty per cent of the cases were concurrently positive for both HBsAg and anti-HBs. Six of 70 (8.6%) patients were positive for anti-HCV, of whom four were also positive for HBsAg. None of 67 patients tested for anti-HDV were positive. The results strongly indicate an important aetiological role for hepatitis B virus in causation of hepatocellular carcinoma among Malaysians.
authors.affiliation: Division of Radiochemistry, Institute for Medical Research, Jalan Pahang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lopez
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thambyrajah
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Balasegaram
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Satgunasingam
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications*; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000097:blood*; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins