[Superinfection of hepatitis viruses]

Using ELISA method, anti-HAV-IgM and anti-HCV were determined in 493 blood donors and 192 patients with HBV infection. The positive rate of anti-HCV in blood donors was 1.62%. The superinfection rates of HBV and HAV, HBV and HCV, HBV, HAV and HCV in patients with HBV infection were 16.7%, 3.13% and 0.52%, respectively. The incidence of hepatitis B viral replication marker was found to be lower in patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses than in those with HBV infection alone. The prolonged course was found to be longer and the degree severer in patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses than in those with HAV or HBV or HCV infection alone. The results suggest that those patients with superinfection of types A and B and/or C hepatitis viruses showed poor prognosis and prolonged course, and many patients with chronic Type A hepatitis resulted from superinfection HBV and/or HCV.