Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C virus-infected persons: A 12-year prospective study

Several studies have reported that antibody to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) positivity may influence the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in chronic hepatitis C patients, but the evidence is still not conclusive. In this study, we examined whether the presence of anti-HBc positive was associated with the development of HCC in hepatitis C virus (HCV)-infected subjects among the residents in an HCV hyperepidemic area who were followed up for 12 years. In an HCV hyperendemic area (positive rate of anti-HCV: 23.4%), 509 residents were examined by health screening in 1990. After 12 years of follow-up, we evaluated the risk factors for HCC. The incidence of HCC was compared between anti-HBc positive and anti-HBc negative subjects after 12 years of prospective observation. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine risk factors for the development of HCC. The incidence of HCC was significantly higher in the anti-HBc positive group (13 subjects) than in the anti-HBc negative group (0 subjects) (P=0.012). Multivariate analysis identified positivity for anti-HBc and HCV RNA, history of icterus, and female gender as independent determinants of the development of HCC. Our findings provide clear evidence in a prospective study that presence of anti-HBc, that is, past hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, is a risk factor for the development of HCC in HCV-infected people.