Characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in patients with hepatitis B virus infection: clinicopathologic study of resected tumours

Recent efforts suggest an aetiological role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinicopathologic characteristics and surgical outcomes of patients with HBV‐associated ICC. All patients with chronic HBV infection were identified from a database of patients with ICC that underwent surgical resection between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006. Their clinicopathologic and survival characteristics were compared with ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. The age of the HBV‐associated ICC patients tend to be younger than that of ICC patients without chronic HBV infection. HBV‐associated ICC patients tend to have higher abnormal α‐fetoprotein levels and lower abnormal serum carbohydrate antigen19‐9 (CA19‐9), r‐glutamyltransferase (r‐GT) and alkaline phosphatase levels. The pathologic features of the resected specimens revealed that HBV‐associated ICC patients tended to be of the mass‐forming type have a lower prevalence of lymphatic involvement and poorer tumour differentiation, and a higher prevalence of capsule formation and liver cirrhosis. Patients with HBV‐associated ICC had a significantly better survival than patients without chronic HBV infection. The clinicopathological features of HBV‐associated ICC patients showed significant differences from ICC patients without HBV infection. These tumours are characterized by the mass‐forming growth pattern and appeared to have a more favourable prognosis.     

Liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus related cirrhosis.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) related chronic liver disease is now the leading cause for liver transplantation in many centres. Virological recurrence is inevitable following liver transplantation. Excellent patient and graft survival are seen in the short-term, equivalent to that in patients transplanted for other causes of liver disease. However, histological evidence of disease recurrence or hepatitis is present in over half the patients within a year of transplantation, although a small percentage develop progressive cholestatic hepatitis with graft loss within a year. Cirrhosis can develop in the first year after transplantation and 28% of patients have evidence of cirrhosis by 5 years. There is little agreement over the factors that predict the recurrence of disease, development of cirrhosis within the graft and graft or patient survival. Graft loss due to HCV occurs in up to 9% at 5 years and the long-term prognosis may not be comparable to groups transplanted for other diseases. Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma may benefit from liver transplantation if the tumour is small and without vascular invasion. There are, as yet, no clear guidelines regarding the best combination of immunosuppressants in patients with HCV but viral clearance has been achieved with the use of interferon and ribavirin therapy post-operatively.     

Hepatoblastoma in adult age. A case report and literature review

Hepatoblastoma (HB) rarely occurs in adults. We report herein the unusual case of a 19-year-old, otherwise healthy woman with no history of liver disease who presented with upper abdominal pain and hepatomegaly. Tests for hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV) were negative, and AFP was normal. There was no evidence of liver cirrhosis. A welldemarcated solid mass of 14 cm in diameter, which was lobulated and partly necrotic, was detected in the liver by computed tomography (CT). At surgical exploration a large liver mass was detected occupying the entire right lobe. A right trisegmentectomy was performed with tumor grossly resected with microscopic residual disease (i.e positive margins). On microscopic examination the tumor was composed mainly of two components which were intermingled: epithelial and mesenchymal elements. The epithelial component was formed of small embryonal cells, grouped into nodules, scattered in cellular mesenchymal tissue. The diagnosis was mixed hepatoblastoma. The patient received 4 cycles of systemic chemotherapy with cisplatinum and adriamycin. Post-chemotherapy evaluation revealed recurrence of the hepatoblastoma in the remaining liver. She died 6 months later.     

隐匿性乙型肝炎病毒感染者临床特点和肝组织病理学检查

目的了解血清肝炎病毒标志物阴性、肝功能反复异常患者中HBV隐匿性感染的比例及其临床和病理学特点。方法对27例血清肝炎病毒标志物阴性、肝功能反复异常患者采用免疫组化法检测肝组织HBsAg、HBcAg和HCVAg，并进行常规的病理学检查。结果肝组织HBsAg和（或）HBcAg阳性9例（33．3％）；HBsAg和（或）HBcAg及HCVAg阳性10例（37．0％）；全阴性8例（29．6％）。在HBV隐匿性感染的19例患者中，慢性肝炎8例，肝硬化11例。结论HBV和HCV感染为血清肝炎病毒标志物阴性患者肝功能反复异常的主要原因之一，尤其是HBV感染。这种HBV隐匿性感染与慢性肝炎、肝硬化的发生关系密切，应引起重视。     

Cryptogenic Liver Disease in the United States: Further Evidence for Non-A, Non-B, and Non-C Hepatitis

Since the advent of anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV)-test-ing, the current worldwide prevalence of cryptogenic cirrhosis is essentially unknown. Objectives: 1) determine if serum HCV RNA testing by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) enhances the diagnostic yield for HCV in patients with anti-HCV-negative cryptogenic liver disease and 2) further define the epidemiology of patients with indeterminate causes of chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Methods: We reviewed the records of 567 patients with chronic liver disease who were evaluated over a 3-yr period. A definite etiology for liver disease was established in all but 28 patients (4.9%). Histology was available in 20 patients. Results: Twenty-one of the 28 patients were female (mean age, 52 yr). Thirteen patients (46%) had a history of previous blood transfusion, and one patient was a health care worker. Histology revealed CAH/cirrhosis in 17 patients, CPH in one patient, and no diagnosis in two patients. Five additional patients had clinically advanced cirrhosis. None of the 28 patients with cryptogenic chronic liver disease was HCV RNA positive by PCR. Conclusions: 1) Approximately 5% of patients with chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis remain cryptogenic despite the addition of HCV RNA testing. 2) PCR does not improve the diagnostic yield in this population. 3) Nearly half of the patients with presumed cryptogenic cirrhosis have been transfused, supporting the hypothesis of a non-A, non-B, and non-C hepatitis virus. 4) Screening donor blood for serum ALT may still be necessary to further reduce posttransfusion hepatitis.     

Hepatitis B and C virus infection as risk factors for liver cirrhosis and cirrhotic hepatocellular carcinoma: a case-control study

To investigate whether hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection are risk factors for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a case-control study of 102 cirrhotic HCC patients, 102 sex-matched and age-matched patients with liver cirrhosis, and 102 matched patients with non-hepatic disease controls was performed. The prevalences of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) in HCC (70.5%, 39.2%) and liver cirrhosis (74.5%, 27.4%) were higher than controls (16.6%, 10.5%) (P = 0.0001). In HBsAg-negative patients, the prevalence of anti-HCV in cirrhotic HCC (66.6%) and liver cirrhosis (46.1%) was higher than in controls (10.5%; P = 0.0001). There was no such difference in HBsAg-positive patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that both HBsAg and anti-HCV were important risk factors for HCC (odds ratio, 6.52 and 4.59, respectively) and liver cirrhosis (odds ratio, 4.22 and 2.29, respectively). There was no difference in odds ratio when HCC and liver cirrhosis were compared. Our result implies that both HBV and HCV are independent risk factors for cirrhotic HCC and liver cirrhosis in Taiwan.     

Hepatocellular carcinoma that arose from primary Sjögren’s syndrome

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) typically originates from HBV or HCV associated liver cirrhosis. Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a kind of autoimmune disease. A sixty-two year old female patient with mild liver damage was diagnosed with pSS after excluding viral, alcoholic and drug-induced hepatitis according to serum immunological detection and liver biopsy. But when she was hospitalized for a second time two years later, a CT scan revealed liver neoplasm. Surgery confirmed HCC and liver cirrhosis by pathology. The elevated level of AFP recovered to normal after tumorectomy. In conclusion, HCC might be a candidate outcome in patients with pSS; it is the doctors’ responsibility to keep this kind of patient under surveillance.     

European collaborative study on factors influencing outcome after liver transplantation for hepatitis C. European Concerted Action on Viral Hepatitis (EUROHEP) Group.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease is characterized by frequent graft infection by HCV. The prognosis and risk factors for morbidity and mortality in this condition were determined. METHODS: A retrospective study of 652 consecutive anti-HCV-positive patients undergoing liver transplantation between 1984 and 1995 in 15 European centers was conducted; 102 patients coinfected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) received immunoglobulin prophylaxis for antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen. RESULTS: Overall, 5-year survival was 72%. Five-year actuarial rates of hepatitis and cirrhosis were 80% and 10%. Genotypes 1b, 1a, and 2 were detected in 214 (80%), 24 (9%), and 24 (9%) of 268 patients analyzed. The only discriminant factor for patient or graft survival was hepatocellular carcinoma as primary indication. Independent risk factors for recurrent hepatitis included the absence of HBV coinfection before transplantation (relative risk [RR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-2.6; P = 0.005), genotype 1b (RR, 2; 95% CI, 1.3-2.9; P = 0.01), and age > 49 years (RR, 1.4; 95% CI, 1.1-1.8; P = 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The results of transplantation for HCV-related disease are compromised by a significant risk of cirrhosis, although 5-year survival is satisfactory. Genotype 1b, age, and absence of pretransplantation coinfection by HBV are risk factors for recurrent HCV.     

Heterochronous development of intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma following hepatocellular carcinoma in a hepatitis B virus carrier

A 68-year-old Japanese woman was admitted to our hospital in September 1995, because of a mass detected by ultrasonography during a follow-up examination for chronic hepatitis B. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the right liver lobe was diagnosed based on imaging studies and elevated alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Percutaneous ethanol injection therapy (PEIT) was performed. PEIT was repeated in November 1998, because the tumor had enlarged and serum AFP was re-elevated. Follow-up ultrasonography (US) demonstrated low echoic mass in the left liver lobe in August 1999; serum AFP was normal, but serum carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) was elevated to 420 U/ml. In October 1999, radiofrequency interstitial tissue ablation (RITA) was performed after tumor biopsy. Pathological findings revealed adenocarcinoma and pathological diagnosis was made as intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinoma (ICC). Three weeks later, her serum CA19-9 was remarkably decreased (180 U/ml). The patient has been well for 5 months. Her latest AFP and CA19-9 in the serum were 2 ng/ml and 89 U/ml, respectively. The incidence of double cancer in the liver is rare. This is also the first case report to discuss ICC treated with RITA.     

Etiological and clinicopathologic characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in young patients

AIM:To investigate the prevalence,risk factors,and clinicopathologic characteristics of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma(ICC)in young patients.METHODS:A retrospective analysis was performed in ICC patients referred to the Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital in Shanghai,China.Among 317 consecutively enrolled patients,40 patients were aged ≤40 years(12.61%).We compared the risk factors and clinicopathologic characteristics of these patients(groupⅠ:n=40)with those aged>40 years(group Ⅱ:n=277).RESULTS:Group I...     

An aged male patient with autoimmune hepatitis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma.

An 82-year-old male patient was admitted for liver dysfunction. Laboratory test showed the following data; aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 79 IU/l, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 28 IU/l, total bilirubin (T. Bil) 0.9 U, zinc sulfate turbidity test (ZTT) 48.9 U, gamma-globulin 4.9 g/dl, immunoglobulin G (IgG) 5,046 mg/dl, anti-nuclear antibodies x 320, anti-mitochondrial antibodies (-), hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) (-), HBcAb (-), anti-hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) (-), hepatitis C virus (HCV-RNA) (-), anti-hepatitis G virus (anti-HGV) (-), alpha-fetoprotein 306.8 ng/ml, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) 2.3 ng/ml, carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 77.2 U/ml. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography showed a large mass occupying most of the right lobe and portal thrombosis in the liver. Liver biopsy revealed cirrhosis with inactive hepatitis in the nontumorous lesion and well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma in the tumorous lesion. We report a rare case of an aged male patient with autoimmune hepatitis complicated by hepatocellular carcinoma.     

乙、丙型肝炎病毒在慢性肝炎、肝硬化患者胃黏膜表达的临床研究

目的:探讨乙、丙型肝炎病毒(HBV、HCV)的泛嗜性.方法:选择慢性乙、丙型肝炎(慢肝组)28例、肝炎肝硬化(肝硬化组)44例,共72例作为研究对象.受检者常规胃镜检查,取胃窦幽门周围3cm以内活体组织两块,除普通病理检查外,分别做乙型肝炎病毒表面抗原(HBsAg)、乙型肝炎病毒核心抗原(HBcAg)、丙型肝炎病毒抗原(HCVAg)免疫组化法检测.结果:慢肝组有不同程度的胃黏膜慢性炎症者达92.9%(26/28)、肝硬化组达95.5%(42/44),排除年龄影响因素外,慢肝组以单纯慢性炎症为多,而肝硬化组以伴萎缩和肠化者为多.慢肝组与肝硬化组患者分别有53.6%(15/28)、81.8%(36/44)胃黏膜HBVAg阳性,其中HBsAg、HBcAg双阳性31例.在51例患者胃黏膜HCVAg检测中有33例(占64.7%)阳性表达、66.7%(22/33)与HBcAg同时表达.肝硬化组HBVAg及HBsAg、HBcAg双阳性者均高于慢肝组(P值均＜0.05).结论:HBV、HCV在慢性及肝硬化患者胃黏膜表达明显,应重视其在胃黏膜病变发病中的作用,并加强防护措施.     

Clinicopathologic features of patients with intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma who are seropositive for alpha-fetoprotein-L3 and those with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND: Some patients who are seropositive for lectin-reactive alpha-fetoprotein (AFP-L3) have intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). There have been no studies regarding the features of ICC patients seropositive for AFP-L3. Thus, the purpose of the present paper was to compare the features of ICC patients from the viewpoint of two different tumor markers, AFP-L3 and carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9. METHODS: The ICC patients who underwent hepatectomy (n = 51) were divided into three groups, and their clinicopathologic features were compared: (i) group A, seropositive for AFP-L3 >or= 15%; (ii) group B, seropositive for CA 19-9 >or= 37 U/mL; and (iii) group C, seronegative for both AFP-L3 and CA 19-9. The features of combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma (n = 11) were also studied. RESULTS: Group A had a higher positivity rate for hepatitis viruses than group B (60%vs 20%, P < 0.05). More patients in group A were misdiagnosed as having hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) at surgery (70%vs 5.7%, P < 0.001) who also had chronic liver disease (80%vs 25.7%, P < 0.01) than in group B. Seven, 10 and 11 of the 11 patients with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma were seropositive for AFP-L3, CA 19-9 and hepatitis viruses, respectively. Ten were diagnosed as having HCC at surgery and nine had chronic liver disease. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with ICC seropositive for AFP-L3 and those with combined hepatocellular and cholangiocarcinoma have features close to HCC. The present study has, for the first time, identified a subgroup of ICC patients, seropositive for AFP-L3, having features close to HCC that are very different from those of the classical ICC patients seropositive for CA 19-9.     

Risk factors for intrahepatic and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma: a hospital-based case-control study

BACKGROUND: The risk factors for cholangiocarcinoma are poorly defined in the United States. We evaluated hepatitis C virus (HCV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and liver cirrhosis as risk factors for intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and extrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ECC). METHODS: A case-control study in which cases were cholangiocarcinoma patients referred to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center between 1992 and 2002 and controls were healthy individuals. Information about liver diseases, family history, diabetes, smoking, and alcohol consumption were collected on both groups. Blood from all participants was tested for HBV and HCV markers. RESULTS: We identified 246 cases (83 ICC and 163 ECC) and matched them to 236 controls. Compared with controls, ICC patients had a higher prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies (6.0%vs 0.8%, P=0.01), anti-HBc (9.6%vs 0%, P<0.0001), and heavy alcohol consumption (21.7%vs 3.8%, P<0.0001). The adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval (CI) were 7.9 (95% CI 1.3-84.5), 28.6 (95% CI 3.9-1,268.1), and 5.9 (95% CI 2.1-17.4), respectively. Only heavy alcohol consumption was higher in patients with ECC than in controls (17.8%vs 3.8%, P=0.003). The prevalence of diabetes and smoking were not significantly different between cases (ICC or ECC) and controls. The prevalence of cirrhosis was higher in patients with ICC than those with ECC (24.1%vs 4.9%, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Liver cirrhosis and chronic HCV infection are possible risk factors for ICC but not ECC. Heavy alcohol consumption is a risk factor for both ICC and ECC.     

Digital image analysis of the distribution of proliferating cell nuclear antigen in hepatitis C virus-related chronic hepatitis,cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma

Viral dynamic studies in chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection indicate a significantly shortened survival of virus-infected cells. Since at the steady state of chronic viral infection, the rate of infected cell elimination equals new cell regeneration, this would imply a high rate of hepatocyte turnover in chronic HCV liver disease. We estimated the fraction of regenerating hepatocytes in liver biopsy sections in chronic HCV liver disease, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We used antibodies to proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) to detect proliferating cell nuclei in liver biopsy specimen from controls and patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and HCC. We also used bis-benzimide to label fluorescently all hepatocyte nuclei simultaneously. Using digital image analysis, we calculated the area occupied by PCNA-stained hepatocyte nuclei, as a fraction of the total area occupied by fluorescently labeled hepatocyte nuclei (labeling index; LI). Antibody staining was negligible in the control specimen. The mean ± SE PCNA LI increased from 0.21 ± 0.1 in chronic hepatitis to 0.63 ± 0.15 in HCC. There was no significant difference between chronic hepatitis and cirrhosis. The fraction of cells undergoing regeneration is increased in chronic HCV liver disease, HCV-related cirrhosis, and HCC. Increased hepatocyte turnover could provide the link between chronic HCV liver disease and HCC.     

Prevalence of hepatitis C virus antibody in a liver transplantation population

The development of a serologic assay to detect antibodies directed at an antigen (C-100-3) of the hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) has been a major breakthrough in the long search for causative agents of non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis. The frequency of HCV in those who have end-stage liver disease is not known. Moreover, the rate of recurrence after liver transplantation (OLTx) and the rate of acquisition of new HCV infection as a result of the OLTx experience is as yet unknown. This study was performed in an attempt to answer these questions. The prevalence of HCV in 372 patients undergoing OLTx at the University of Pittsburgh was determined. Those transplanted for HBV-related liver disease with hepatoma had the highest rate of HCV antibody positivity (45.4%) followed by those with metabolic liver disease (42.5%), putative NANB liver disease (41.4%), and cryptogenic cirrhosis (20.9%); those with cholestatic liver disease exhibited the lowest rate (16.2%). HCV antibody was positive in only 26.3% of patients with hepatoma. Of those patients who were negative prior to transplantation, 12.2% acquired HCV antibody post-OLTx. In the putative NANB group, no difference was detected in the AST and ALT prior to transplantation in either the HCV antibody-positive or -negative patients. In patients with cryptogenic cirrhosis, those who were positive for HCV antibody had higher transaminase levels prior to transplantation than did those patients who were HCV antibody negative.     

Liver transplantation in haemophilia

We report our UK single-centre experience of liver transplantation in haemophilia patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) infection. Between March 1990 and March 2001, 16 patients were referred for transplant assessment and 11 (mean age 46 years: nine haemophilia A, two haemophilia B) have been transplanted. Factor concentrate replacement was administered using a continuous infusion regimen following initial bolus dosing. Concentrate infusion was discontinued at a median of 36 h (range 24-72 h) post transplant. Nine patients remain alive at a median of 5 years post transplant (6 months to 11 years). One patient died 6 years post transplant from myocardial infarction. The other patient died of liver failure as a consequence of HCV infection 3 months following a second transplant, having developed HCV cirrhosis within 1 year of receiving his initial graft. Five of the seven patients who have had annual liver biopsy surveillance have developed histological changes of HCV hepatitis at a median of 3 years post transplant (1 year to 9 years). One of these patients progressed to cirrhosis at 3 years 5 months post transplant. Two patients have shown no evidence of HCV hepatitis at 2 years 8 months and 9 years post transplant respectively. The outcome of liver transplantation in haemophilic patients is good and is associated with relatively little morbidity.     

Prevalence of hepatitis C antibody in patients with chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma in Korea

Summary. To investigate the contribution of hepatitis C virus (HCV) to chronic liver disease and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in Korea, antibodies to HCV (anti-HCV) were tested by enzyme immunoassay in 1759 patients with chronic liver disease and HCC, and in 808 healthy adults. The prevalence of anti-HCV was 1.6% in 808 controls. Anti-HCV was present in 32 (7.7%) of 418 hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 128 (53.1%) of 241 HBsAg-negative patients with chronic hepatitis, 16 (6.0%) of 265 HBsAg-positive and 90 (30.5%) of 295 HBsAg-negative patients with liver cirrhosis, and 16 (4.8%) of 330 HBsAg-positive and 61 (29.0%) of 210 HBsAg-negative patients with HCC. Antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) were present in 80–88% of patients who were seropositive for anti-HCV and seronegative for HBsAg. Among the sera from 114 patients with HBsAg-negative and anti-HCV-positive chronic liver diseases, HBV DNA and HCV RNA were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 54 (47.4%) and 61 (53.3%), respectively. Both HBV DNA and HCV RNA were detected in 4 (4.4%) samples. The mean age of the patients with both HBsAg and anti-HCV was not different from that of patients who were seropositive for HBsAg alone. These findings indicate that current and/or past HBV infection is still the main cause of chronic liver disease in Korea. Although multivariate analysis showed that anti-HCV is a risk factor for chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis of the liver and HCC, PCR data for HBV DNA and HCV RNA indicate that HCV infection plays only a minor role in HBsAg-positive as well as in HBsAg-negative liver disease and does not accelerate the development of HCC in HBV carriers.     

Course and treatment of recurrent Hepatitis C after liver transplantation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) related liver cirrhosis is the most common indication for orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in most transplant centers. However, recurrence of hepatitis C-infection after OLT in HCV positive patients is almost universal. Severity of graft hepatitis increases during the long term follow-up and up to 30% of patients develop severe graft hepatitis and cirrhosis. This led to decreased patient and graft survival in HCV positive patients. A number of variables like genotype, donor age, rejection treatment, cytomegalo-virus disease and liver retransplantation for HCV recurrence have shown to be associated with early and severe graft hepatitis. Prophylactic or therapeutic regimens which alter the course of disease in HCV positive patients are not established yet, and with longer follow-up the prevalence of HCV-related graft failure is likely to increase. New immunosuppressive regimens and anti-viral treatment with ribavarin in combination with pegylated interferon a have to be investigated to reduce the complications of HCV recurrence in the future.     

输血后丙型肝炎患者的临床特点及自然病程

目的了解输血后慢性丙型肝炎病毒(HCV)感染者的临床特点及自然病程。方法采用回顾性调查与前瞻性研究相结合的方法,进行定群随访观察。结果(1)在99例HCV感染病例中,输血时间主要集中于1989—1994年,其中1990—1992年最为多见。(2)99例随访患者中,90例临床诊断为慢性丙型肝炎,9例诊断为丙型肝炎肝硬化(代偿期)。(3)99例患者自输血距首次诊断丙型肝炎的时间为(7．4± 6．6)年,其中9例患者首次诊断丙型肝炎肝硬化距输血时间为(12．7±5．8)年。(4)在63例男性患者中, 慢性丙型肝炎59例,丙型肝炎肝硬化4例；36例女性患者中,慢性丙型肝炎31例,丙型肝炎肝硬化5例；按男女分组比较丙型肝炎与肝硬化的构成比,差异无统计学意义(P＞0．05)。(5)丙型肝炎肝硬化组患者病程中均有反复肝功能异常,并且两氨酸氨基转移酶异常时波动的幅度较大。(6)本组病例在观察期间未发现肝癌的发生。结论(1)在广州地区,目前经输血感染HCV的可能性较1995年前大幅度降低。(2)9．1％ (9／99)的慢性丙型肝炎感染者在HCV感染13(12．7±5．8)年左右已进展为肝硬化(代偿期)。(3)对于反复出现肝功能异常的慢性丙型肝炎患者,应尽可能采用干扰素联合利巴韦林进行抗病毒治疗。