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Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with chronic liver diseases
M Yoshikawa1, T Tsujii, H Fukui
1Third Department of Internal Medicine, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Japan.
Insights
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies are prevalent in chronic liver diseases, including non-B, alcoholic, and hepatitis B liver conditions. HCV positivity in cirrhosis correlates with poorer survival and earlier hepatocellular carcinoma development.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Oncology
Background:
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a significant global health concern.
- Chronic liver diseases encompass various etiologies, including viral, alcoholic, and metabolic factors.
- Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major complication of chronic liver disease.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in patients with non-B (NB), alcoholic (AL), and hepatitis B (HB) chronic liver diseases.
- To investigate the association between anti-HCV status and clinical outcomes, including survival and HCC development, in cirrhotic patients.
- To explore the potential pathogenetic role of HCV in AL and HB liver diseases.
Main Methods:
- Enzyme immunoassay (Ortho-HCV ELISA) was used to measure anti-HCV antibodies in 512 patients.
- Patient cohorts included NB chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis (LC), HCC, AL LC, AL HCC, HB CH, HB LC, and HB HCC.
- Statistical analysis compared outcomes between anti-HCV positive and negative groups.
Main Results:
- High frequencies of anti-HCV were observed: 80% in NB CH, 86% in NB LC, 85% in NB HCC, 70% in AL LC, and 90% in AL HCC.
- Anti-HCV prevalence in HB patients was 15% in CH, 33% in LC, and 58% in HCC.
- Anti-HCV positive cirrhotics exhibited shorter survival and earlier HCC development compared to anti-HCV negative cirrhotics.
Conclusions:
- HCV is a primary driver of NB chronic liver diseases.
- HCV may contribute pathogenetically to alcoholic and hepatitis B liver diseases.
- HCV infection is a critical factor influencing prognosis in chronic liver disease patients.
Abstract:
Antibodies against hepatitis C (HCV) in 512 patients were measured by an enzyme immunoassay (Ortho-HCV ELISA). The frequency of anti-HCV was 80%, 86%, 85% in nonB (NB) chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis (LC), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), respectively; 70%, 90% in alcoholic (AL) LC, HCC; 15%, 33%, 58% in hepatitis B (HB) CH, LC, HCC, respectively. Anti-HCV positive cirrhotics had a shorter survival time and earlier development of HCC than anti-HCV negative cirrhotics. The findings suggest that HCV is a major cause of NB chronic liver diseases and may play a pathogenetic role in AL and HB liver diseases.