Prevalence and Clinical Features of Occult Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Families with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Date Issued
2008
Date
2008
Author(s)
Jian, Jhih-Wei
Abstract
Background & Aims: Taiwan is an endemic area of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. This study aimed to assess the extent to which occult HBV infection aggregates in families with HCC, and to determine the association between occult HBV infection and hepatic abnormalities. Material and Methods: Study subjects consisted of 601 HBsAg-negative first-degree relatives from 251 families with HCC and 602 HBsAg-negative, age-matched unrelated individuals as controls. Occult HBV infection was defined by the detection of HBV DNA in serum by PCR amplification assay on the X region of HBV. PCR assay on core region was performed in subjects who showed positivity in X region. Results: Occult HBV infection was detected in 26.0% of relatives from families with HCC and in 18.4% of controls (P=0.0017). The familial recurrence risk ratio for occult HBV infection was 2.59. Anti-HCV positivity, female gender of HCC proband, and number of HBsAg-positive relatives in a family were positively associated with an increased likelihood of occult HBV infection. Circulating HBV DNA was higher in relatives who showed positivity in both X and core regions than in those who showed positivity in the X region only (P<0.0001). The presence of occult HBV was associated with elevated ALT (odds ratios were 2.01 [95% CI: 1.06-3.80] and 5.31 [2.66-10.60], respectively, for positivity for X region and both X and core regions), irrespective of age, sex, alcohol drinking, and anti-HCV status. Conclusions: There is familial aggregation of occult HBV infection in families with HCC. Occult HBV infection may increase risk of hepatic abnormalities.
Subjects
Occult hepatitis B virus infection
Families with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Familial aggregation
Semi-Nested PCR
Clinical Features
SDGs
Type
thesis
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