Virologic and biochemical changes and prognosis after liver resection for hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
During the natural course of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, clearance of HB e antigen (HBeAg) and HB surface antigen (HBsAg) occurs with remission of liver disease. We investigated the effects of postoperative changes in virologic and biochemical parameters on the prognosis after liver resection for HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).


METHODS
We investigated the relationship between postoperative changes in virologic and biochemical parameters and the incidence of intrahepatic recurrence and the outcome during a 3-year period following surgery in 30 HCC patients with HBsAg.


RESULTS
The incidence of intrahepatic recurrence of HCC was significantly higher in patients with acute postoperative exacerbation of hepatitis (p = 0.0084), a sustained high serum concentration of HBV DNA (> or = 5.0 mEq/ml, p = 0.001), and sustained expression of HBsAg after surgery (p = 0.0421). A high serum concentration of HBV DNA was significantly associated with a shorter survival time (p = 0.0447) and the cause of death was recurrence of HCC.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with acute postoperative exacerbation of hepatitis, sustained HBsAg expression, and sustained high serum concentrations of HBV DNA after surgery may require more intensive postoperative monitoring for HCC recurrence.
Kubo
S
S
Second Department of Surgery, Osaka City University Medical School, Osaka, Japan. m7696493@msic.med.osaka-cu.ac.jp
Hirohashi
K
K
Tanaka
H
H
Tsukamoto
T
T
Shuto
T
T
Higaki
I
I
Takemura
S
S
Yamamoto
T
T
Nishiguchi
S
S
Kinoshita
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006084:Graft Rejection; D006085:Graft Survival; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D016031:Liver Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000473:pathology; D011336:Probability; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015996:Survival Rate
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006511:Hepatitis B Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens