HCC risk increased for Hepatitis B antigen-negative & HBsAg ≥1000 IU/mL patients

[Bnd11]

An interesting new paper about HCC risk.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22333950


Gastroenterology. 2012 May;142(5):1140-1149.e3; quiz e13-4. Epub 2012 Feb 11.
High levels of hepatitis B surface antigen increase risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with low HBV load.


Among patients infected with HBV genotype B or C, determinants of HCC risk include their sex, age, hepatitis B e antigen status, HBV genotype, and levels of alanine aminotransferase and HBV DNA, but not level of HBsAg. Among hepatitis B e antigen-negative patients with low viral loads, HCC risk is determined by levels of HBsAg and alanine aminotransferase and age, but not HBV DNA.

[4est]

I agree with StephenCastlecrag , it say that the risk is higher for the qHbsAg in the HbeAg negative patients with low hbvdna group that have a lower risk per general.

[StephenCastlecrag]

I read it a little differently. For HbeAg negative patients with low hbvdna(< 2000 iu/ml), then those with higher HbsAg quantities will have a higher risk. So it is a refinement. Overall, high viral load is still a risk factor.