The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to study the prevalence rates for hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to surface antigen (anti-HBs), and antibody to core antigen (anti-HBc) in 724 voluntary donors, students, pregnant women and those seeking treatment for minor ailments in the Gizan area of Saudi Arabia. Tests for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and e antibody (anti-HBe) were made in HBsAg positive sera. There was serological evidence of an existing or earlier infection in 337 Saudis (46.5%), of whom 12.7% were HBsAg carriers, 25.4% were positive for anti-HBs, and 8.4% were positive only for anti-HBc. The percentage of HBsAg carriers was 19.9% and 9.3% in males and females, respectively (p less than 0.001). The evidence of existing or earlier infection in males (58.7%) was significantly higher than in females (38.7%) (p less than 0.001), with no intersex difference in anti-HBs or anti-HBc. No difference was observed in the positivity of either of the markers, alone or together, between the cord blood and the female population in the child-bearing age of 20-39 years. Corresponding to the values in other age groups, there was an overall fall in the number of HBsAg carriers during adolescence as well as in 20-39-year-old females. Among the HBsAg carriers, there was no significant difference between the two sexes for HBeAg and anti-HBe positivity. The HBsAg carrier rate of 19.9% in males is consistent with the high male dominant prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma in the Gizan area.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical, laboratory, and ultrasonographic features of 75 patients of primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) living in the Gizan Area of Saudi Arabia and their follow-up, during a 2-year period, were characterized. Eighty-nine percent of the cases were defined histologically, whereas in the rest, ultrasonographic (US) evidence along with an alphafetoprotein (AFP) level exceeding 480 ng/ml were taken as the positive evidence for PHC. Eighty percent of the cases were male patients, with the peak incidence during the seventh decade. The most common clinical presentations were hepatic enlargement (91%), abdominal pain (76%), splenic enlargement (33%), and acites (33%), followed by bruit, fever, metastases, and varices. Alteration in a liver function test was manifest in 97% of the cases, AFP values greater than 480 ng/ml in 57%, and a hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg) positivity in 65% of the cases. There was no intersex variation in positivity for HBsAg, antibody to HBsAg (anti-HBs), antibody to hepatitis B virus core antigen (anti-HBc) among the 30 PHC cases studied. Positivity for HBsAg or the overall hepatitis B virus exposure in PHC cases was higher than the normal controls (P less than 0.001). In addition to histologic confirmation of PHC in 67 cases, there was histologic evidence of cirrhosis in 25%, or chronic active hepatitis in 19% of the cases. At the time of diagnosis, the average duration of the presenting illness was less than 2 months, while the mortality in the ensuing 2-month period was 73%. The average span of total illness in the vast majority of cases was 4 to 6 months. Two female patients (one with fibrolamellar carcinoma) however, survived for 2 years. Immunization against hepatitis B virus should be considered for all newborns in such hyperendemic communities. A continuous program should be started in such communities to screen and immunize all those yet unexposed to hepatitis B virus. The established HBsAg carriers should be periodically examined ultrasonographically along with an AFP estimation for initiating the chemotherapeutic and other measures against PHC in fairly early stages of malignancy.

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