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[Comparative study on the clinical characteristics of HBV/HCV co-infection patients with different HCV contaminnation
Ka Zhang1, Hong Cao, Xiao-an Yang
1Department of Infectious Diseases, Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510630, China.
Insights
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infected patients show distinct characteristics based on HCV transmission. Intravenous drug users (IDUs) are younger with more severe liver injury, while blood transfusion recipients (PTCH) are older with more cirrhosis.
Area of Science:
- Hepatology
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infection is a significant global health concern.
- Understanding the differences in clinical presentation based on HCV transmission routes is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare epidemiological, biochemical, and virological features in HBV/HCV co-infected patients.
- To investigate differences based on the mode of HCV contamination: intravenous drug use (IDU) versus blood transfusion (PTCH).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 133 patients with chronic HBV/HCV co-infection was analyzed.
- Patients were categorized into two groups: IDU and PTCH.
- Epidemiological, biochemical, and virological data were collected and analyzed using univariate methods.
Main Results:
- The IDU group (n=78) was younger, with shorter infection histories and less cirrhosis compared to the PTCH group (n=55).
- IDU patients exhibited higher serum ALT, AST, and TBil levels, indicating more severe liver injury.
- Significant differences in sex composition were observed between the groups.
Conclusions:
- HCV contamination mode significantly influences the clinical characteristics of HBV/HCV co-infected patients.
- PTCH patients tend to be older, have more cirrhosis, and milder liver injury.
- IDU patients are generally younger, with less cirrhosis but more severe liver injury.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to compare the epidemiological, biochemical and virological characteristics among patients co-infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) according to the mode of HCV contamination.
Methods:
The study included 133 patients with chronic HBV/HCV co-infection. They were studied and subdivided into two groups (drug addicts group and Blood transfusion group) according to the mode of HCV contaminnation. The epidemiological, biochemical and virological characteristics were collected. Univariate analysis was performed with the SPSS 16.0.
Results:
78 patients were infected by the mode of drug addicts (IDU), whereas 55 were infected by the mode of blood transfusion( PTCH). Patients in drug addicts group had yonger age, shorter HBV and HCV infection history, and lower cirrhosis percentage than those of patients in PTCH group (P <0.05). However,serum levels of ALT (t =4.760, P =0.000), AST (t = 3.798, P = 0.000), TBil (t = 4.274, P = 0.000) of IDU patients were higher than those of PTCH patients. There was difference of sex composition between two groups (chi2 = 18.706, P = 0.000).
Conclusions:
The clinical characteristics of patients with HBV/HCV coinfection were significantly different among different HCV contamination mode. PTCH patients have the characteristics of older age, more cirrhosis and mild degree of liver injury; IDU patients have the characteristics of yonger age,fewer cirrhosis and severe liver injury.
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