RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 High prevalence of anti-hepatitis B virus serological markers in patients with hepatitis C virus related chronic liver disease in Japan
JF Gut
JO Gut
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Society of Gastroenterology
SP 284
OP 288
DO 10.1136/gut.45.2.284
VO 45
IS 2
A1 H Marusawa
A1 Y Osaki
A1 T Kimura
A1 K Ito
A1 Y Yamashita
A1 T Eguchi
A1 M Kudo
A1 Y Yamamoto
A1 H Kojima
A1 H Seno
A1 F Moriyasu
A1 T Chiba
YR 1999
UL http://gut.bmj.com/content/45/2/284.abstract
AB BACKGROUND/AIMS Evidence is accumulating that hepatitis B virus (HBV) is present in patients who are hepatitis B surface antigen negative but have antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc). Furthermore, recent studies have shown that patients with hepatocellular carcinoma who have antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV) often possess HBV related serological markers. Data on the seroprevalence of HBV infection in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease were collected to evaluate the significance of the presence of antibodies to HBV.METHODS The prevalence of HBV related serological markers was analysed in a total of 2014 Japanese patients with HCV infection. The control group comprised 352 subjects without liver disorder.RESULTS A large number of patients (49.9%) with HCV related chronic liver disease including hepatocellular carcinoma were positive for anti-HBc. In addition, the prevalence of anti-HBc closely correlated with the clinical stage of the liver disease. There was no relation between a past history of blood transfusion and the prevalence of anti-HBc. Notably, anti-HBc was the only serological marker for HBV infection in a significant number of patients with HCV related chronic liver disease (24.1%).CONCLUSIONS Our data provide further evidence for the high prevalence of anti-HBc in patients with HCV related chronic liver disease, particularly those with hepatocellular carcinoma, suggesting that HBV infection, probably including latent infection, may play an important role in carcinogenesis in these patients.HCVhepatitis C virusHBVhepatitis B virusHBchepatitis B coreHCChepatocellular carcinomaHBsAghepatitis B surface antigenCHchronic hepatitisLCliver cirrhosis