HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTI ON IN PATIENTS WITH HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of HBV and HCV infections in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may be related to variations in the geographi c area of study. For this reason, we have analized the relative preval ence of HBV and HCV infections in 94 patients with hepatocellular carc inoma from Cantabria (North of Spain). PATIENTS AND METHODS: We have s tudied 94 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma from January 1988 to December 1993. Commercially available radioimmunoassay or ELISA were u sed for detection of HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc. The HBV DNA was ana lized by PCR, The HCV infection was assayed by ELISA-2 and RT-PCR. RES ULTS: The HBV infection was detected in 27 patients: 19 patients were HBsAg positive and 8 patients HBsAg negative, anti-HBc positive, DNA H BV positive by PCR. The HCV infection was found in 57 patients. Forty patients were infected with both viruses. Of the remain twenty-four, f orty were alcoholics. We found in 61 patients more than one etiologica l factor. Hepatoma was the first manifestation of liver disease in 24 cases and these were more frequently in HCV than in those with HBV inf ection. Moreover, the first group were older and have lower alcohol in take. CONCLUSIONS: 1) In Cantabria, Spain, the majority of cases of he patocellular carcinoma are related to HBV, HCV and alcohol. 2) Analysi s of DNA HBV and RNA HCV by PCR allows the diagnosis of cryptic infect ions by both viruses, especially in the cases of HBV and HCV coinfecti on. 3) Hepatoma is the first manifestation of liver disease in a high percentage of cases.