HEPATITIS-C VIRUS, ALCOHOLIC CIRRHOSIS, AND HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

We undertook a retrospective study to determine the prevalence of hepa titis C virus (HCV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in 81 Caucas ian patients with confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Besides HB V and HCV serological markers, HCV RNA and HBV DNA were detected in se rum and liver tissue by polymerase chain reaction. Overall, HCV RNA wa s found in 20 cases (25%), HBV DNA in 21 patients (26%), and coinfecti on in 3 patients (3%). HCV RNA in liver tissue was not found without v irus in serum, whereas HBV DNA was found in the liver tissue of one pa tient without viremia. In an additional analysis, 32 patients with HCC and alcoholic cirrhosis (HCC-AC) were compared to 35 cases with AC wi thout HCC and 35 cases with alcoholic hepatitis. The' prevalence of HC V RNA in HCC-AC (19%) was significantly higher than in the other group s (AC, 3%; alcoholic hepatitis, 0%). HBV DNA was present in 19% of HCC -AC as compared to 3% of AC and 0% of alcoholic hepatitis. We conclude that the form of HCC in 50% of the patients in a Western European cou ntry is related to chronic viral hepatitis. Our data obtained from a g roup of patients having alcoholic liver disease with or without HCC su ggest that the prevalence of HCV RNA or HBV DNA in these populations i ncreases with the severity of hepatic injury.