Hepatitis C Virus Antibodies In Nigerians With Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Objective: The aim of the study is to determine the frequency of antibodies to hepatitis C virus among Nigerian patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Method: The study was prospective. Patients with histologically confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma were studied. Sera of the patients were tested for hepatitis C virus antibodies using a third generation ELISA. Results: A total of 108 patients consisting of 81 males and 27 females were studied, giving a male to female ratio of 4:1. Their ages ranged from 22 to 75 years with a mean of 48 years (SD±13.0). The highest incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma was found among those aged 4049 years. A total of 19 patients (17.6%) were positive for HCV antibodies. There was no significant difference in the frequencies of these antibodies between the male and female patients. Conclusion: HCV plays a significant role in the etiology of hepatocellular carcinoma in Nigeria. Therefore, patients with chronic hepatitis C should be screened for HCC on regular basis.