Primary liver carcinoma and markers of virus of type B hepatitis
Pedreira, J.D.; Vargas, V.; Vilaseca, J.; Esteban, R.; Hernández-Sánchez, J.M.; Guardia, J.; Bacardi, R.
Medicina Clinica 75(2): 58-60
1980
ISSN/ISBN: 0025-7753 PMID: 6249978 Document Number: 158135
Association of primary liver carcinoma with virus of type B hepatitis has been demonstrated around the world, especially in African and Asian countries where high titles for surface antigen of B hepatitis (HBsAg) have been found. Presence of viral markers of B hepatitis has been studied in a group of 34 patients with primary liver carcinoma, in 139 cirrhotic patients, and in 100 normal individuals. Positive titles of HBsAg or of antibodies against "core" antigen (anti-HBc) without evidence of antibodies against HBsAg (anti-HBs) were considered as positive markers for virus B infection. Percentages of positive markers in the series studied were as follows: 52% in the cases of primary liver carcinoma, 38% in the cirrhotic cases, and 5% in the control subjects. There is a significant difference in relation to the incidence of viral markers between patients with liver carcinoma and normal controls. A possible role of the virus of B hepatitis in the pathogenesis of primary liver carcinoma could be suggested on the basis of these results.