A Bayram1, F Eksi, M Mehli, E Sözen. 1. Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Gaziantep University Faculty of Medicine, Gaziantep, Turkey. aysenbayram@hotmail.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, serum samples were collected between January and December 2004 from patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: There were 190 adult patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 174 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the study group. As the control group, a cohort of 178 age- and sex-matched individuals without known liver disease was selected. RESULTS: Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were positive in 26/190 (13.7%) of chronic HBV and 94/174 (54%) of chronic HCV patients. In the control group anti-HEV positivity was 15.7% (28/178). There was no difference in the percentage of chronic HBV patients and control group who were positive for anti-HEV antibody, but the presence of HEV infection was significantly higher in chronic HCV patients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HEV and HCV might share a common route of transmission in our region. We recommend that preventive measures against HEV should be undertaken in chronic HCV patients as superinfection with HEV can cause a more severe pattern of disease in chronic hepatitis patients. Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the prevalence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) among patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C, serum samples were collected between January and December 2004 from patients with chronic hepatitis B and chronic hepatitis C. METHODS: There were 190 adult patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) and 174 with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in the study group. As the control group, a cohort of 178 age- and sex-matched individuals without known liver disease was selected. RESULTS: Anti-HEV IgG antibodies were positive in 26/190 (13.7%) of chronic HBV and 94/174 (54%) of chronic HCVpatients. In the control group anti-HEV positivity was 15.7% (28/178). There was no difference in the percentage of chronic HBVpatients and control group who were positive for anti-HEV antibody, but the presence of HEV infection was significantly higher in chronic HCVpatients. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that HEV and HCV might share a common route of transmission in our region. We recommend that preventive measures against HEV should be undertaken in chronic HCVpatients as superinfection with HEV can cause a more severe pattern of disease in chronic hepatitispatients. Copyright 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel.
Authors: Nghiem Xuan Hoan; Hoang Van Tong; Nicole Hecht; Bui Tien Sy; Patrick Marcinek; Christian G Meyer; Le Huu Song; Nguyen Linh Toan; Jens Kurreck; Peter G Kremsner; C-Thomas Bock; Thirumalaisamy P Velavan Journal: EBioMedicine Date: 2015-11-11 Impact factor: 8.143