An Australian experience of hepatitis B infection, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

A review of 180 patients with either chronic hepatitis or hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) indicate a significant association. 40 patients with chronic hepatitis were seen between 1975-79. 6/25 of chronic active hepatitis and 7/15 with chronic persistent hepatitis were HBsAg positive (RIA). In the 41 patients with HCC, 15 (37%) were alcoholic, 10 cirrhosis (HBsAg positive), 5 haemochromatosis 5 cryptogenic cirrhosis, 2 probably due to sex steroids and in 4 no aetiological factor was apparent. HBsAg was present in 10/22 (45%) of HCC with cirrhosis, 15/256 (6%) for alcoholic cirrhosis, 5/16 (33%) for haemachromatosis and 5/30 (16%) cryptogenic cirrhosis. 8/80 (10%) who had acute viral hepatitis (B) are antigen positive at 6 months. This report shows that Hepatitis B virus infection is now a significant causes of liver injury in 180 patients studied. The majority of patients who have HBsAg positive cirrhosis do not have a history of acute hepatitis.