SEROPREVALENCE OF HEPATITIS-B AND HEPATITIS-C VIRUSES AND HELICOBACTER-PYLORI INFECTION IN A SMALL, ISOLATED POPULATION AT HIGH-RISK OF GASTRIC AND LIVER-CANCER

The objective of this study was to examine the seroprevalences of chro nic infection with hepatitis B and C viruses and Helicobacter pylori i n Matzu, a group of small islets with 5,566 civilian residents who hav e extremely high mortality from cancers of the stomach and liver. The standardized mortality ratios (SMR) of all cancer sites combined, live r cancer and stomach cancer in 1984-1993 were calculated using the gen eral population in Taiwan as the referent (SMR = 100). The SMRs (95% c onfidence interval) for all cancer sites combined, liver cancer and st omach cancer were 160 (131 - 195), 252 (170-360) and 351 (229-516), re spectively, in Matzu, A health survey was carried out with 1,485 civil ian residents aged 30 years or more, giving a reponse rate of 69% amon g those who were eligible. Serum samples were tested for antibodies ag ainst Helicobocter pylori (anti-HP) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent ass ay and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibodies against hepa titis C virus (anti-HCV) by enzyme immunoassay. The seroprevalence was 61% for anti-HP, 24.7% for HBsAg and 1.8% for anti-HCV in Matzu. Whil e mortality rates of liver and stomach cancers were significantly high er in Matzu than in Taiwan, the seroprevalences of anti-HP, HBsAg and anti-HCV in Matzu were similar to or even lower than those in Taiwan. These findings suggest the existence of risk factors other than microb ial agents involved in the development of stomach and liver cancers. ( C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.