The distribution of class I (A, B, C) and class II (DR antigens) histocompatibility antigens (HLA) was examined in 82 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and in 147 patients with chronic liver disease as controls. The diagnosis of HCC was confirmed by histological examination of liver tissue. HLA-B15 antigen was found more frequently in the subgroup of HCC patients who were positive for HBsAG (13/36, 36.1%) compared to the control group (8/147; 5.4%) [p < 0.001, Pc < 0.05, RR = 9.8] and a HBsAg positive control subgroup (1/25, 4%) [p < 0.001, Pc < 0.05, RR = 13.6]. No other statistically significant difference was found for any of the HLA antigens examined either in HCC patients as a whole group or in the subgroups according to sex, course of illness, AFP status, alcohol consumption, liver cirrhosis or blood groups. These data are further evidence that there may be a link between hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection and HLA antigens. The association of HLA-B15 antigen and HbsAg supports the idea of some genetic control of HBV infection in the patients with HCC.

Frequency of HCV infection was examined in patients on chronical program of hemodialysis considering the high risk to which they had been exposed because of frequent blood transfusion. We determined anti-HCV antibodies in 57 patients (29 male and 28 female) average age 52.6 years with terminal chronic renal failure. Frequency of anti-HCV antibodies (determined by ELISA Ortho test of first generation) was in correlation with the number of received transfusions and with duration of dialysis treatment and it was compared with anti-HCV antibody findings in hemodialysis staff (the control group of healthy persons). Results of the examination showed that anti HCV antibodies were positive in 38.95% examined patients (n = 57), and it showed that the patients on hemodialysis were a critical group for HCV infection. There was no correlation with the blood groups. Level of transaminases, HBsAg and immunity test in anti-HCV positive patients were in the physiological range. In order to prevent HCV infection in the dialysis centres, it is necessary to conduct routine test in patients and staff, and undertake all measures of protection.

Intensive longtime experimental and clinically-experimental investigations have not yet succeeded unriddling the intimate mechanism of liver alcoholic damage. Earlier knowledge on accumulation of fats in liver under the influence of alcohol (ethanol) is still actual, but it probably represents only epiphenomenon and does not explain the intimate mechanism of events. It still can be stated that, although the aim has not been achieved, gradually, as a consequence of very studious investigations we have signification information which bring more light in regard to identify the mechanism of this frequent disease of modern mankind. We have tried to summarize the latest knowledge on alcoholic liver damages. However, some of the most simple questions still do not have an answer: why do, for example, some longtime alcoholics, whose everyday intake of alcohol is big, develop liver cirrhosis at the end of their lives, while the others, under the same circumstances, develop it very early?

An analysis was conducted concerning the data on malignant digestive-tract tumors which were treated in the period from 1985 to 1989 at the Department for Gastroenterology of the Clinical-Hospital Center in Zemun. The research results showed that malignant digestive-tract tumors are not in an increase, they are rare in persons which are younger than 40 years of age (10%) and are two times more frequent in males. The share of malignant tumors of the large intestine in overall morbidity is somewhat more frequent, they occur two times more in males and with 10.6% in persons younger than 40 years. The malignant tumors of the stomach are the only ones which are in a decrease, they are considerably less frequent in younger persons (3.7%), but are also two times more frequent in males. Malignant tumors of the pancreas are somewhat more represented in overall morbidity, they are very rare in young persons (3.7%) and are more frequent in males. The data on malignant tumors of the liver show that in the last few years they are somewhat more represented in overall morbidity, they are rare in persons younger than 40, and are more frequent in males.