Clinical Characteristics of Non - B , Non - C Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Detection of HBV , HCV and TTV Viremia

Korean J Hepatol > Volume 7(4); 2001 > Article

The Korean Journal of Hepatology 2001;7(4): 439-448.

원저 : Non - B , Non - C 간세포암종의 임상적 특징과 B 형 간염바이러스 , C 형 간염바이러스 및 TT Virus 바이러스혈증의 빈도( Original Articles : Clinical Characteristics of Non - B , Non - C Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Detection of HBV , HCV and TTV Viremi

Clinical Characteristics of Non - B , Non - C Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Detection of HBV , HCV and TTV Viremia

Hyun Ho Cho, Young Ho Kim, Jin Mo Jung, Kwang Hee Cho, Sang –Hyung Cho, Dae Hyun Choi, Sook-Hyang Jeong, Jin-Hyuk Lee, Chul Ju Han, You Cheoul Kim, Jhin Oh Lee, and Chang –Min Kim*

Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Cancer Center Hospital, Seoul, National Institute of Cancer*, Kyoungi, Korea

ABSTRACT

Background/Aims
About 15% of Korean hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) are negative both of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV)in their sera. They can be classified as a non-B, non-C hepatocellular carcinoma group(NBNC group). The aims of our study were, firstly, to describe the clinical characteristics of Korean NBNC HCC and compare them with those of HBsAg-positive HCC(HBV group) and anti-HCV-positive HVV(HCV group). Secondly we wanted to assess the frequency of viremia of HBV, HCV and transfusion-transmitted virus(TTV)in NBNC HCC patients. Methods : we prospectively collected clinical data and sera from 113 NBNC HCC patients and performed PCR for HBV DNA, HCV RNA and TTV DNA. We also collected clinical data from 125 HBsAg-positive HCC patients during a similar period. Results : The mean age of the NBNC HCC group was 59 years, in-between that of the HBV and the HCV groups. A History of heavy alcohol drinking was found in 48% of the NBNC HCC group. This was significantly higher than that of the HBV group, but similar to that of the HCV group. Serum α FP level in the NBNC HCC group was more frequently in the normal range compared to that in the HBV and HCV groups. The detection rates of HBV DNA, HCV RNA and TTV DNA in the NBNC HCC group were 17%, 13% and 67% respectively. Conclusions : The NBNC HCC patients seemed to comprise a heterogeneous group of various etiologies and clinical presentations. About one third of these patients displayed evidence of viremia of HBV or HCV. (Korean J Hepatol 2001;7 :439- 448)

KeyWords: Hepatitis/Viral/Non-B, Non-C, Neoplasm/Liver/Hepatocellular carcinoma, Hepatitis B virus, Hepatitis C virus, TT virus, Epidemiology