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Eight‐year nationwide survival analysis in relatives of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma: Role of viral infection
Author(s) -
Tai DarIn,
Chen ChienHung,
Chang TingTsung,
Chen ShinnCherng,
Liao LiYing,
Kuo ChungHuang,
Chen YangYuan,
Chen GranHum,
Yang SienSing,
Tang HuangShang,
Lin Hsien Hong,
Lin DengYn ,
Lo Sing Kai,
Du JengMing,
Lin KwoChuan,
Changchien ChiSin,
Chang WenYu,
Sheu JinChuan,
Liaw YunFan,
Chen DingShinn,
Sung JueiLow
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of gastroenterology and hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.214
H-Index - 130
eISSN - 1440-1746
pISSN - 0815-9319
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1746.2002.02747.x
Subject(s) - medicine , hepatocellular carcinoma , hbsag , hepatitis c virus , hepatitis b virus , viral hepatitis , gastroenterology , hepatitis b , risk factor , virus , immunology
Background: Families of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) carry a high risk of developing HCC. We determine the number of fatalities in relatives of HCC patients during an 8‐year period to understand the risk and cause of HCC in relatives of patients with HCC. Methods: From 1992 to 1997, 15 410 relatives of HCC patients in three generations were screened prospectively for HCC by ultrasonography, α‐fetoprotein, liver biochemistry and viral markers. By using national citizen identification numbers, we searched the total fatalities in relatives of HCC patients between 1992 and 1999 from the national mortality data bank. The results were compared among different viral infection groups. Results: Of the relatives studied, 37.8% were hepatitis B s antigen (HBsAg) positive (+), 4.3% were anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) (+) and 1.7% were both HBsAg (+) and anti‐HCV (+). A total of 399 fatalities, including 139 because of HCC (34.8%), 37 because of liver diseases (9.3%), 88 because of other cancers (22.1%) and 135 because of other diseases (33.8%), were found. Relatives who were HBsAg (+) or anti‐HCV (+)showed a lower cumulative survival than did relatives who were negative for both HBsAg and anti‐HCV. Relatives with dual infection of hepatitis B and C virus showed the highest mortality due to HCC or terminal liver diseases. Conclusions: Chronic viral infection rather than a hereditary factor is the main cause of a familial tendency for HCC. Dual infection of hepatitis B and C virus increases the risk of HCC or decompensated liver diseases.