Incidence of hepatitis B virus infection in alcoholic liver disease, HBsAg negative chronic active liver disease and primary liver cell cancer in Britain

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Abstract
A study has been undertaken to determine the incidence of serum markers of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in British Caucasian patients with biopsy-proven alcoholic liver disease (n = 56), hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) negative chronic active liver disease (CALD) (n = 47) and primary liver cell cancer (PLCC) (n = 27), compared to a hospital control population without liver disease (n = 112). No increased incidence of any serum marker of HBV infection was found in alcoholic liver disease or in lupoid CALD (antinuclear factor positive 1:40 and/or smooth muscle antibody positive > 1:40). The incidence of antibody to HBsAg and hepatitis B core antigens was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in patients with cryptogenic CALD. The incidence of hepatitis B surface antigen and antibodies to hepatitis B core and e antigens was significantly increased (P < 0.005) in PLCC.