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Serum antibodies to hepatitis C virus in Italian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Sbolli G.,
Zanetti A. R.,
Tanzi E.,
Cavanna L.,
Civardi G.,
Fornari F.,
Di Stasi M.,
Buscarini L.
Publication year - 1990
Publication title -
journal of medical virology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 121
eISSN - 1096-9071
pISSN - 0146-6615
DOI - 10.1002/jmv.1890300316
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , hepatitis c virus , hbsag , medicine , cirrhosis , antibody , virology , hepatitis b virus , virus , hepatitis c , hepatitis b , etiology , hepatitis , immunology , gastroenterology
Antibodies against hepatitis C virus (anti‐HCV) were detected in 60.8% of 78 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Cirrhosis, present in most of the patients, as well as alcohol abuse, age, sex, and α‐fetoprotein were equally distributed in the anti‐HCV‐positive and ‐negative groups. HBsAg positivity was significatively higher in negative anti‐HCV group. By contrast, hepatitis B virus (HBV) antibodies were detected more frequently in positive anti‐HCV patients than in the negative anti‐HCV group. These data must be considered with caution becuase of the small number of HBsAg‐positive patients. It is concluded that the high prevalence of anti‐HCV in patients with HCC may suggest an etiological role of the hepatitis C virus, although in relationship to age, alcohol abuse and cirrhosis, the similarity in the two groups questions this hypothesis.