Lack of epidemiological evidence for a role of resolved hepatitis B virus infection in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with hepatitis C virus in Japan

Objective: The role of resolved hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in promoting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) in Japan was evaluated by epidemiological surveys. Methods: Antibody to hepatitis 8 core (anti-HBc) was determined in age-matched blood donors, and the frequency was compared with that in patients with HCV-associated HCC in Japan. Results: Anti-HBc was detected significantly more frequently in the blood donors with than without antibody to HCV (anti-HCV; 76/135 or 56.3% vs. 65/255 or 25.5%, p < 0.001). In the patients with HCV-associated HCC, anti-HBc was detected in 109 of 202 (54.0%), which was comparable to the frequency in anti-HCV-positive blood donors (56.3%). Among the blood donors with anti-HCV, the prevalence of anti-HBc was no different between those with and without HCV RNA in serum (40/ 77 or 51.9% vs. 36/58 or 62.1%). Conclusions: The individuals of an age with high cancer frequency (greater than or equal to 40 years) in Japan would have been exposed to HBV frequently (>50%), whether or not they have developed HCV-associated HCC. Despite repeated assertions in the literature, no epidemiological evidence was obtained for a role of past HBV infection in hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with HCV in Japan. Copyright (C) 2003 S. Karger AG, Basel.