Does previous hepatitis A infection affect the clinicopathological status of chronic hepatitis C?

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of previous infection with hepatitis A virus on histopathological and biochemical changes in chronic hepatitis C.

Anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies, liver histopathology and alanine aminotransferase activity were determined in 82 patients with chronic hepatitis C. The liver biopsy specimen of each patient was examined according to Scheuer's classification to indicate the severity of the inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal/periportal and parenchymal area (grading) in a 0-4 scale and fibrous stage (staging) in a 0-4 scale.

The overall prevalence of anti-hepatitis A virus antibodies was 63.1%. Anti-HAV-positive patients were significantly older than anti-HAV-negative ones (mean age 42.5 and 33.1 years respectively, p < 0.05). After stratifying the study sample into two age groups (< 40 years and > or = 40 years) the percentage of anti-HAV-positive individuals was similar irrespective of grading, staging score or presence of steatosis. No remarkable differences were observed between the anti-HAV-positive and -negative group in the mean ALT activity.

The results of our study indicate that previous hepatitis A is not associated with progressive course of chronic hepatitis C.