Estimation of HBsAg in jaundice patients with special reference to hepatocellular carcinoma

The cause and effect relationship between the association of Hepatitis-B surface antigens (HBsAg) and chronic liver disease is debatable although there are significant pointers to indicate a possible etiological significance between certain forms of chronic liver disease and HBsAg. HBsAg positivity is observed more with chronic liver disease as compared to acute liver disease. Among chronic liver disease HBsAg positivity was maximum with cirrhosis (50%). About 95% of newborns infected at birth become chronic carriers of virus. The risk decreases steadily with time, so that the risk of infected adults becoming carriers decreases to 10%. A total of 60 jaundice patients were sampled, out of which 27 patients were found as HBsAg positive. This HBsAg positivity was most prominent in the age group 46 to 50 years. Out of these 27 patients, 18 patients were suffering from HCC as evidenced by the presence of Alpha Feto Protein (AFP). A high degree of correlation (+ 0.980) was found between HBsAg positive jaundice patients and HCC in the present study in slightly higher age groups. The association of HBsAg with HCC may be regarded as significant in the etiology of chronic liver disease.