Does hepatitis C virus infection contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma in hong kong?

Abstract

Background. Hong Kong has a high incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and, because it is an endemic area for hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the etiologic association between HCC and HBV infection is reported to be as high as 80%. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) recently was shown to be a possible pathogenetic agent for HCC in a number of countries. Methods. To assess the relative importance of these two viruses in HCC in Hong Kong, a retrospective study of 424 Chinese patients with HCC was performed. Results. Three hundred forty‐one (80.3%) patients were found to be carriers of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Hepatitis C antibodies (anti‐HCV) were detected in 31 patients (7.3%). Fifteen patients with positive findings for anti‐HCV had concurrent HBV infection, 11 had serologic evidence of previous HBV infection, and only 5 patients had anti‐HCV marker alone. Patients with positive findings for anti‐HCV were older than those with HBsAg (mean ages, 60 and 53 years, respectively). A higher preponderance of male patients was found in the HBsAg‐positive group; the male to female ratio was 11:1, compared with 7:l among patients with anti‐HCV. Anti‐HCV was detected in 0.64% of 175 age‐matched and sex‐matched controls. Conclusions. These data indicate a possible causal role of HCV infection in HCC, but it is of relatively minor epidemiologic significance in Hong Kong, where HBV infection is overwhelming. Copyright © 1992 American Cancer Society