Non-A, non-B hepatitis and antibody to hepatitis C virus

Stored serum samples from the Transfusion-transmitted Viruses Study in the 1970s were tested for the presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). Single specimens from five control subjects who did not receive transfusions tested negative for anti-HCV. Of four control subjects who did not receive transfusions and who developed non-A, non-B (NANB) hepatitis after hospitalization, three remained anti-HCV negative; the fourth person with postoperative NANB hepatitis tested anti-HCV positive before the operation. Five transfusion recipients with posttransfusion hepatitis B virus infection remained seronegative; a sixth with NANB hepatitis as well as hepatitis B virus infection had seroconversion for anti-HCV. Five of nine transfusion recipients with NANB hepatitis had anti-HCV seroconversion. These results show that present anti-HCV testing demonstrates an etiologic basis for approximately half of the cases of transfusion-associated NANB hepatitis, particularly those that develop chronicity. Although cases of NANB hepatitis without seroconversion may be explained otherwise, they may be caused by another, presently unidentified, virus.     

Australia antigen and antibody and alpha-fetoglobulin in hepatoma patients

Australia antigen and antibody and alpha-fetoglobulin were tested in 14 patients with a histologic diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma. Three of the 14 had Au antigen and four of eight tested had anti-Au. Thus, at least 50% of the patients with hepatoma presented serological evidence of past exposure to viral hepatitis B. Alpha-fetoglobulin was detected in five hepatoma patients. Sera from four of these cases were positive for either Au or anti-Au. IgA levels were elevated in 10 of 12 hepatoma patients. These results suggest a possible association between long incubation type hepatitis and hepatoma, since the incidence of antigenemia and antibody is low in Houston in persons without a history of hepatitis.