Co-infection of HBV with HCV and a possible role of HBV DNA in hepatocarcinogenesis
Koike, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 57(1): 213-219
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 10036965 Document Number: 499938
HBV and HCV are two major etiologic agents of chronic hepatitis, which is closely related to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A possible involvement of HBV co-infection was investigated in ongoing HCV-related liver diseases in HCV-infected patients. A high prevalence of anti-HBC in anti-HCV-positive/HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis patients was found and a low copy number of HBV DNA was detected in most of the liver biopsy samples of anti-HCV-positive/HBsAg-negative patients. The current data suggest that HBV co-infects frequently with HCV and may play an important role in the development of HCC in HCV-infected patients.