Related Experiment Videos
Superinfection with hepatitis C virus in patients with symptomatic chronic hepatitis B
1Department of Medicine, Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Insights
The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) superinfection in chronic hepatitis B patients is low. HCV superinfection may worsen existing liver disease, accelerating its progression.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Virology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Symptomatic chronic hepatitis B affects numerous patients globally.
- Understanding co-infections is crucial for disease management.
- Hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection in hepatitis B virus (HBV) patients requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of HCV superinfection in patients with symptomatic chronic hepatitis B.
- To investigate the impact of HCV superinfection on liver disease progression and exacerbation.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 323 patients with symptomatic chronic hepatitis B.
- Serological testing for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV).
- Assessment of liver histology, including cirrhosis, and correlation with serological markers.
Main Results:
- Prevalence of anti-HCV was 3.4% (11/323 patients).
- No significant difference in anti-HCV rates based on alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels or hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)/hepatitis B virus-DNA (HBV-DNA) status.
- Patients with anti-HCV showed a significantly higher rate of cirrhosis (36.4% vs. 5.4%, p < 0.005).
Conclusions:
- HCV superinfection is uncommon in symptomatic chronic hepatitis B patients.
- HCV superinfection is not a primary driver of acute exacerbations in chronic hepatitis B.
- HCV co-infection can accelerate the progression of liver disease in chronic hepatitis B patients.
Abstract:
11/323 patients (3.4%) with symptomatic chronic hepatitis B were positive for antibody to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV). The positive rate of anti-HCV in patients with serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels greater than 200 U/l (n = 219) did not exceed that of the patients with ALT less than or equal to 200 U/l (n = 104) (2.7% vs. 4.8%). Of the 219 patients who were positive for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) and/or hepatitis B virus-DNA (HBV-DNA), 5 (2.3%) had anti-HCV, while 6/104 patients (5.8%) who were positive for antibody to HBeAg (anti-HBe) had anti-HCV (p greater than 0.1). In contrast to the anti-HCV-negative patients, the patients with anti-HCV had a higher percentage of cirrhosis in their liver histological findings (36.4% vs 5.4%, p less than 0.005). In conclusion, the prevalence of HCV superinfection in symptomatic chronic hepatitis B patients is low and HCV superinfection is not an important factor in acute exacerbation of chronic hepatitis B. However, the superinfection with HCV may exacerbate the existing liver disease and accelerate its progression.