HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUS AND HEPATOCELLULAR-CARCINOMA

Antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was detected in 18.7% of pati ents with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in 10.9% of controls (P<0 .001). The corresponding prevalences of hepatitis B surface antigen (H BsAg) were 59.3% and 50.0% (P<0.001). Using patients with non-hepatic disease as controls, stepwise logistic regression analysis indicated t hat both anti-HCV (odds ratio 6.88%; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.63 -9.77) and HBsAg (odds ratio 6.46; 95% CI 1.68-18.13) were independent risk factors for HCC. Calculation of the incremental odds ratio indic ated no interaction between hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV. Blood tra nsfusion was a significant risk factor for acquiring HCV infection wit h odds ratios of 5.48 (95% CI 1.07-29.0) and 2.86 (95% CI 1.31-22.72) for HCC cases and controls, respectively. The mean age of HCC cases wi th HBsAg and anti-HCV was lower than that of HCC patients with anti-HC V alone (P<0.01). It is concluded that there is a high rate of HBV inf ection, and a low rate of HCV infection, among Nigerian patients with HCC. However, HBV and HCV are independent risk factors for the develop ment of HCC, with HBV having an effect more rapidly. Screening of bloo d products for transfusion might minimize the risk of HCV transmission .