HBV superinfection in HCV chronic carriers: A disease that is frequently severe but associated with the eradication of HCV
Open Access
- 23 December 2008
- journal article
- viral hepatitis
- Published by Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health) in Hepatology
- Vol. 49 (4), 1090-1097
- https://doi.org/10.1002/hep.22794
Abstract
The impact of hepatitis B virus (HBV) superinfection in hepatitis C virus (HCV) chronic carriers was evaluated in a long-term follow-up study on 29 chronic anti-HCV carriers with acute hepatitis B (AVH-B) (Case group BC) and 29 anti-HCV negative patients with AVH-B (Control group B), pair-matched for age (±5 years), sex, and risk factors for the acquisition of HBV infection. Patients in Case group BC and those in Control group B showed similar initial HBV viral load and a similar trend of becoming negative for HBV-DNA. AVH-B showed a severe course more frequently in Case group BC than in Control group B (34.5% versus 6.9%, P < 0.05). Of the 28 patients in Case group BC alive at the end of the acute illness (one death from liver failure), 24 were followed up for 2-6 years, median 5 years: 22 patients became HBsAg-negative and two progressed to HBsAg-positive chronic hepatitis. HCV-RNA was undetectable in all patients during AVH-B; in the 24 patients with a long-term follow-up, HCV-RNA was detected in seven (29.2%) after 1 year, in 14 (58.3%) after 2 years, and in 18 (75%) after 3-6 years. The six patients who eradicated chronic HCV infection, compared with 18 showing reactivation of HCV replication, had higher values of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase and a higher prevalence of cases with severe AVH-B (83.3% versus 22.2%, P < 0.05). Conclusions: Although it can be life-threatening, HBV superinfection in HCV chronic carriers may lead to clearance of chronic HCV infection, especially in patients with severe AVH-B. (HEPATOLOGY 2009.)This publication has 28 references indexed in Scilit:
- Liver Failure and Liver SupportSeminars in Liver Disease, 2008
- Hepatitis A virus infection suppresses hepatitis C virus replication and may lead to clearance of HCVJournal of Hepatology, 2006
- Clinical and Virological Improvement of Hepatitis B Virus--Related or Hepatitis C Virus--Related Chronic Hepatitis with Concomitant Hepatitis A Virus InfectionClinical Infectious Diseases, 2006
- Hepatitis C virus superinfection in hepatitis B virus chronic carriers: A reciprocal viral interaction and a variable clinical courseJournal of Clinical Virology, 2006
- Rapid detection and quantitation of hepatitis B virus DNA by real-time PCR using a new fluorescent (FRET) detection systemJournal of Clinical Virology, 2004
- Acute Hepatitis B and C Virus Coinfection: A Virological and Clinical Study of 3 CasesClinical Infectious Diseases, 2003
- HBV superinfection in hepatitis C virus chronic carriers, viral interaction, and clinical courseHepatology, 2002
- Noncytolytic Control of Viral Infections by the Innate and Adaptive ImmuneResponseAnnual Review of Immunology, 2001
- Virologic and Clinical Expressions of Reciprocal Inhibitory Effect of Hepatitis B, C, and Delta Viruses in Patients With Chronic HepatitisHepatology, 2000
- Clinical and virological profiles in patients with multiple hepatitis virus infectionsGastroenterology, 1993