The significance of anti-HBc and occult hepatitis B virus infection in the occurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with HBsAg and anti-HCV negative alcoholic cirrhosis.
10.3350/kjhep.2008.14.1.67
- Author:
Min Ju KIM
1
;
Oh Sang KWON
;
Nak So CHUNG
;
Seo Young LEE
;
Hyuk Sang JUNG
;
Dong Kyun PARK
;
Yang Suh KU
;
Yu Kyung KIM
;
Yun Soo KIM
;
Ju Hyun KIM
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon Medical School Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Korea. osshsjuj@yahoo.co.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article ; English Abstract ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
- Keywords:
Alcohol;
Anti-HBc;
Hepatocellular carcinoma;
Liver cirrhosis;
Occult HBV infection
- MeSH:
Adult;
Aged;
Antibodies, Viral/blood;
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology;
DNA, Viral/analysis;
Female;
Hepatitis B/*complications/diagnosis;
Hepatitis B Core Antigens/*immunology;
Hepatitis B Surface Antigens/immunology;
Hepatitis B virus/genetics/immunology/isolation & purification;
Hepatitis C/complications/diagnosis;
Humans;
Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic/*complications/diagnosis/epidemiology;
Liver Neoplasms/diagnosis/epidemiology/*etiology;
Male;
Middle Aged;
Risk Factors
- From:The Korean Journal of Hepatology
2008;14(1):67-76
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND/AIMS: Alcohol and the hepatitis B virus (HBV) exert synergistic effects in hepatocelluar carcinogenesis. We aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of the antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) and occult HBV infection on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis (LC). METHODS: Patients with alcoholic LC alone (n=193) or combined with HCC (n=36), who did not have HBsAg or antibody to hepatitis C virus were enrolled. Clinical data and laboratory data including anti-HBc were investigated at enrollment. The polymerase chain reaction was applied to HBV DNA using sera of patients with HCC or LC after age and sex matching. RESULTS: Patients with HCC were older (60+/-11 years vs. 53+/-10 years, mean+/-SD, P<0.001), more likely to be male (100% vs. 89%, P=0.03), and had a higher positive rate of anti-HBc (91.2% vs. 77.3%, P=0.067), and a higher alcohol intake (739+/-448 kg vs. 603+/-409 kg, P=0.076) than those with LC. Age was the only significant risk factor for HCC revealed by multiple logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 1.056; P=0.003). The positive rate of anti-HBc and alcohol intake did not differ in age- and sex-matched subjects between the LC (n=32) and HCC (n=31) groups. However, the detection rate of serum HBV DNA was higher in the HCC group (48.4%) than in the LC group (0%, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Anti-HBc positivity is not a risk factor for HCC. However, occult HBV infection may be a risk factor for HCC in patients with alcoholic LC.
