BACKGROUND: Co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV seems to be relatively frequent. There might be a mutual influence on replication activity of HBV and HCV. OBJECTIVES: To determine the HBV activity in patients with serum HCV RNA and HBsAg positivity and in those with confirmed anti-HCV antibody and HBsAg positivity but serum HCV RNA negativity. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 1,200 anti-HCV antibody positive samples were investigated. Samples of HCV RNA and HBsAg positive patients were compared with those of confirmed anti-HCV and HBsAg positive but serum HCV RNA negative patients. HBV activity was tested with the quantitative Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor Test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Pleasanton, CA). RESULTS: Of all studied patients with chronic hepatitis C (serum HCV RNA positivity) only 1.0% were found to be HBsAg positive. In contrast, of all patients with confirmed anti-HCV positivity but serum HCV RNA negativity, 11.9% tested HBsAg positive. The median of HBV DNA levels of patients with serum HCV RNA positivity and HBeAg seroconversion (4.0 x 10(2) HBV DNA copies per ml) was found to be slightly lower than that of patients with serum HCV RNA negativity and HBeAg seroconversion (2.5 x 10(3) HBV DNA copies per ml; P>0.05). The median of HBV DNA levels of patients with serum HCV RNA positivity but without HBeAg seroconversion (1.1 x 10(4) HBV DNA copies per ml) was found to be significantly lower than that of patients with serum HCV RNA negativity but without HBeAg seroconversion (2.6 x 10(7) HBV DNA copies per ml; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A mutual effect on HBV and HCV replication could be observed. The molecular assay for quantification of serum HBV DNA was found to be useful for the routine diagnostic laboratory.
BACKGROUND: Co-infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and HCV seems to be relatively frequent. There might be a mutual influence on replication activity of HBV and HCV. OBJECTIVES: To determine the HBV activity in patients with serum HCV RNA and HBsAg positivity and in those with confirmed anti-HCV antibody and HBsAg positivity but serum HCV RNA negativity. STUDY DESIGN: A total of 1,200 anti-HCV antibody positive samples were investigated. Samples of HCV RNA and HBsAg positive patients were compared with those of confirmed anti-HCV and HBsAg positive but serum HCV RNA negative patients. HBV activity was tested with the quantitative Cobas Amplicor HBV Monitor Test (Roche Diagnostic Systems, Pleasanton, CA). RESULTS: Of all studied patients with chronic hepatitis C (serum HCV RNA positivity) only 1.0% were found to be HBsAg positive. In contrast, of all patients with confirmed anti-HCV positivity but serum HCV RNA negativity, 11.9% tested HBsAg positive. The median of HBV DNA levels of patients with serum HCV RNA positivity and HBeAg seroconversion (4.0 x 10(2) HBV DNA copies per ml) was found to be slightly lower than that of patients with serum HCV RNA negativity and HBeAg seroconversion (2.5 x 10(3) HBV DNA copies per ml; P>0.05). The median of HBV DNA levels of patients with serum HCV RNA positivity but without HBeAg seroconversion (1.1 x 10(4) HBV DNA copies per ml) was found to be significantly lower than that of patients with serum HCV RNA negativity but without HBeAg seroconversion (2.6 x 10(7) HBV DNA copies per ml; P<0.05). CONCLUSION: A mutual effect on HBV and HCV replication could be observed. The molecular assay for quantification of serum HBV DNA was found to be useful for the routine diagnostic laboratory.