TTV positivity and transfusion history in non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma compared with HBV- and HCV-positive cases

The prevalence of TT virus (TTV) and its rate of transmission through trans fusion were investigated to determine its possible hepatocarcinogenic role in non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as compared with that in hep atitis B virus (HBV)- and hepatitis C virus (HCV)-positive HCC. Its transfe ction route in TTV-positive cases was also studied. Serum was positive for TTV in 77.8% (7/9) of HBV-positive, 36.4% (12/33) of HCV-positive, and 63.6 % (7/11) of non-B, non-C cases of HCC. The rate of transmission through tra nsfusion was 52.4% (11/21) in HBV-positive, 40.1% (61/152) in HCV-positive, 33.3% (2/6) in HBV+HCV-positive, and 40% (8/20) in non-B, non-C HCCs, whil e it was 48.3% (14/29) in TTV-positive and 39.3% (11/28) in TTV-negative ca ses. The association between TTV and HCC was limited, and the main route of infection of TTV was not th rough transfusion. Copyright (C) 2000 S. Karger AG, Basel.