Frequency of Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma at Hyderabad

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of hepatitis B and Hepatitis C in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in two university hospitals of Hyderabad. STUDY DESIGN: Descriptive observational study. PLACE AND DURATION: This study was conducted at Liaquat University Hospital Hyderabad and Isra University Hospital Hyderabad from November 2005 to October 2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Clinically diagnosed hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cases were confirmed pathologically. Demographic and clinical information was recorded on a predesigned proforma. Serological assessment for hepatitis B, hepatitis C and delta virus was carried out through ELISA. RESULTS: A total of 200 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma were included in this study. Hepatitis C antibody was present in 145 (72.5%) cases. HBsAg was present in 42 (21.0%) cases. Thirteen (6.5%) cases were infected by multiple viruses. Twenty-one (10.5%) cases were alcoholic as well as infected by hepatitis C and 1 case (0.5%) was only alcoholic. Twelve cases (6.0%) were neither alcoholic nor having any viral etiology. CONCLUSION: HCV alone was most frequent presentation in cases of HCC followed by HBV, emphasizing their etiological association.