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Influence of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 coinfection on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection

  • Original Article—Liver, Pancreas, and Biliary Tract
  • Published:
Journal of Gastroenterology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

Human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1) may worsen the clinical course of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate whether HTLV-1 coinfection influences the clinical characteristics of patients with HCV infection.

Methods

This retrospective study included 523 consecutive patients from January 2001 to December 2010 with chronic liver disease due to HCV infection, in whom serum anti-HTLV-1 antibodies were examined. Among these patients, 265 were diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Results

The seroprevalence of anti-HTLV-1 antibodies was significantly higher in patients with HCC (21.1 %) than those without HCC (10.5 %, P = 0.001). This significant difference was observed in female patients (29.5 vs. 8.5 %, P < 0.001), but not in male patients (16.5 vs. 12.9 %, P = 0.501). In multivariate analysis, anti-HTLV-1 antibody positivity was independently associated with HCC in female patients [odds ratio (OR), 5.029; 95 % confidence interval (95 % CI), 1.760–14.369; P = 0.003], in addition to age (≥65 years; OR, 10.297; 95 % CI, 4.322–24.533; P < 0.001), platelet count (<15 × 104/μL; OR, 2.715; 95 % CI, 1.050–7.017; P = 0.039), total bilirubin (≥1 mg/dL; OR, 3.155; 95 % CI, 1.365–7.292; P = 0.007), and total cholesterol (≤160 mg/dL; OR, 2.916; 95 % CI, 1.341–6.342; P = 0.007). In contrast, HTLV-1 coinfection was not associated with HCC in male patients, although age, alcohol consumption, platelet count, and albumin were independently associated with HCC.

Conclusions

HTLV-1 coinfection may contribute to the development of HCC in patients with chronic HCV infection, especially in females.

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Conflict of interest

H. Tsubouchi holds endowed faculty positions in research for HGF tissue repair and regenerative medicine, and has received funds from Eisai Co., Ltd. The other authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Digestive and Lifestyle Diseases, Department of Human and Environmental Sciences, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan

    Mayumi Tokunaga, Hirofumi Uto, Kohei Oda, Masahito Tokunaga, Seiichi Mawatari, Kotaro Kumagai, Kouichi Haraguchi, Makoto Oketani & Akio Ido

  2. Department of Hematology, Imamura Bun-in Hospital, 11-23 Kamoikeshinmachi, Kagoshima, 890-0064, Japan

    Mayumi Tokunaga, Masahito Tokunaga & Atae Utsunomiya

  3. Department of Hematology, National Hospital Organization Kagoshima Medical Center, 8-1 Shiroyama-cho, Kagoshima, 892-0853, Japan

    Kouichi Haraguchi

  4. Department of Hematology, Ikeda Hospital, 1830 Shimoharaigawa-cho, Kanoya, 893-0024, Japan

    Nobuhito Ohnou

  5. Department of HGF Tissue Repair and Regenerative Medicine, Kagoshima University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, 8-35-1 Sakuragaoka, Kagoshima, 890-8544, Japan

    Hirohito Tsubouchi

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  1. Mayumi Tokunaga
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  2. Hirofumi Uto
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  3. Kohei Oda
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  4. Masahito Tokunaga
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  10. Nobuhito Ohnou
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  11. Atae Utsunomiya
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  12. Hirohito Tsubouchi
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Correspondence to Hirofumi Uto.

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Tokunaga, M., Uto, H., Oda, K. et al. Influence of human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 coinfection on the development of hepatocellular carcinoma in patients with hepatitis C virus infection. J Gastroenterol 49, 1567–1577 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-013-0928-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00535-013-0928-5

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