Influence of viral load and genotype in the progression of Hepatitis B-associated liver cirrhosis to hepatocellular carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is an important factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We studied the influence of HBV viral load on HCC occurrence in HBV related liver cirrhosis (LC).


METHODS
Ninety-one LC patients were followed up over a period of 7 years. Twenty three patients received Interferon (IFN) therapy.


RESULTS
In 7 years, 23 patients developed HCC. Of them twenty-two (95.6%) were of genotype C. HBV DNA was found to be the only significant variable associated with HCC occurrence on both univariate (P = 0.029) and multivariate analysis (odds ratio 2.33; P < 0.033). The cumulative survival at 5 years was 83% and the annual rate of hepatitis B surface antigen clearance was 0.9 %. All of 17 HCC patients observed over a period of 5 years or more belonged to the continuously high HBV DNA group (annual average >3.7 log copies/ml) and all but one belonged to the continuously high alanine aminotransferase group (annual average >40 IU/l).


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with genotype C and a continuously high HBV DNA for 5 years or more are at a high-risk group for HCC development. Maintaining continuously low HBV DNA for 3 years or more with anti-viral therapy, may be useful in preventing or delaying HCC occurrence.
Mahmood
Sabina
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Center for Liver Diseases, Kawasaki Hospital, Kawasaki Medical School, Okayama City 2-1-80, Okayama 700-0986, Japan. sabina@m4.dion.ne.jp
Niiyama
Gouichi
G
Kamei
Ayumi
A
Izumi
Akiyoshi
A
Nakata
Keiichi
K
Ikeda
Hideji
H
Suehiro
Mitsuhiko
M
Kawanaka
Miwa
M
Togawa
Kazumi
K
Yamada
Gotaro
G
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D015995:Prevalence; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D015996:Survival Rate; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral