Cellular Localization of Hepatitis B Virus Antigens in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Coexisting with Liver Cirrhosis

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Specimens of liver tissue obtained by biopsy from 5 patients and at necropsy from 7 patients with postnecrotic liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma were examined for the presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) and hepatitis B core antigen (HBc Ag) by direct immunofluorescence. In all cases, samples of serum were tested for HBs Ag and antibody to HBs Ag (anti-HBs) by immunoelectroosmophoresis and for antibody to HBc Ag (anti-HBc) by indirect immunofluorescence. Of these 12 representative cases of the main histological types of hepatocellular carcinoma, 6 were seropositive for anti-HBc, and 3 were negative for HBs Ag. HBs Ag was detected in the cytoplasm of hepatocytes in the cirrhotic nodules in 1 seronegative patient and in 3 of the seropositive cases. In the latter cases, HBs Ag was identified in the cytoplasm of cells in well-differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma. HBc Ag was not found in any of the specimens examined.