Etiology and prognosis of cryptogenic liver cirrhosis: possible contribution of hepatitis B virus

J Med. 1997;28(1-2):31-44.

Abstract

Three female patients without type B or type C viral hepatitis, alcoholic, metabolic or autoimmune liver disease, were selected from 250 cases with histologically proven liver cirrhosis (M:F = 183:67). All three cases showed at least one positive aspect among three parameters of serum anti-HBc (RPHA, x1), HBV-DNA (gene S, nested PCR) and liver HBs and/or pre-S2 antigen (immunoperoxidase methods). Two cases may suggest a spontaneous disappearance of HBV from sera. Another case may suggest a contribution of mutant HBV which can not be detected by the routine tests. These HBV-related cirrhotic patients have done well clinically and have not been associated with hepatocellular carcinoma during the period from 6 to 12 years of follow-up when compared with 59.6% and 65.4% prevalence of hepatocarcinogenesis in type B and type C hepatitis-associated cirrhosis during the observation period of six and seven years on average, respectively.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Base Sequence
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
  • DNA Primers / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / blood
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / complications
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification
  • Hepatitis B virus / pathogenicity*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / etiology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / etiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Prognosis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • DNA Primers
  • DNA, Viral