Mohamed A Mekky1, Ahmad Medhat Nasr2, Medhat A Saleh3, Nasr K Wasif4, Marwa Khalaf4, Hany Aboalam4, Mahmoud Haredy4. 1. Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. Electronic address: doc_mekky0000@yahoo.com. 2. Department of Tropical Medicine and Gastroenterology, Assiut University Hospital, Assiut, Egypt. 3. Department of Public Health and Community Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt. 4. Viral Hepatitis Management Unit, Ministry of Health, Assiut, Egypt.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Data about dual hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) co-infection are still scarce, especially in endemic areas such as Egypt. Therefore, we aimed to characterise the virologic and histologic pattern of dual B/C co-infection in a tertiary care centre in Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After obtaining approval from the review board, a retrospective design to evaluate the data registry between January 2009 and December 2012 of patients with dual HCV and HBV seropositivity (BC-group) at the Viral Hepatitis Unit in Ministry of Health and Assiut University Hospital, Egypt was conducted. Data for hepatitis B e antigen (HBe-Ag) and anti-HB core status, anti-hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV), HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA assays and liver biopsy (METAVIR scoring) results were collected. Two other matched groups of mono-HCV (C-group) and HBV (B-group) were selected as controls. All patients were naive for antiviral therapy. RESULTS: A total of 3300 patients were enrolled. Dual infection was observed in 25 (0.7%) patients (all males, mean=35.2±10.2years). Four patients (16%) were HBe-Ag-positive. Six (24%) patients were HBV-DNA-negative and all were positive for HCV RNA. Between groups, raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was found in 76%, 41.7% and 49.2% of the BC, B and C groups, respectively (p=0.023). HBV DNA >2000IUml(-1) was more in the B-group than in the BC-group (63.9% vs. 36%; p=0.042) and HCV RNA >800,000IUml(-1) was more in the BC-group than in the C-group (28% vs. 12.3%; p=0.009). Histologically, there is no statistical significant difference between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Dual hepatitis B/C infection is not uncommon and their virologic and histologic profile is modest. Further evaluation with regard to treatment and long-term follow-up is warranted.
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: Data about dual hepatitis C (HCV) and B (HBV) co-infection are still scarce, especially in endemic areas such as Egypt. Therefore, we aimed to characterise the virologic and histologic pattern of dual B/C co-infection in a tertiary care centre in Egypt. PATIENTS AND METHODS: After obtaining approval from the review board, a retrospective design to evaluate the data registry between January 2009 and December 2012 of patients with dual HCV and HBV seropositivity (BC-group) at the Viral Hepatitis Unit in Ministry of Health and Assiut University Hospital, Egypt was conducted. Data for hepatitis B e antigen (HBe-Ag) and anti-HB core status, anti-hepatitis delta virus (anti-HDV), HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA assays and liver biopsy (METAVIR scoring) results were collected. Two other matched groups of mono-HCV (C-group) and HBV (B-group) were selected as controls. All patients were naive for antiviral therapy. RESULTS: A total of 3300 patients were enrolled. Dual infection was observed in 25 (0.7%) patients (all males, mean=35.2±10.2years). Four patients (16%) were HBe-Ag-positive. Six (24%) patients were HBV-DNA-negative and all were positive for HCV RNA. Between groups, raised alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was found in 76%, 41.7% and 49.2% of the BC, B and C groups, respectively (p=0.023). HBV DNA >2000IUml(-1) was more in the B-group than in the BC-group (63.9% vs. 36%; p=0.042) and HCV RNA >800,000IUml(-1) was more in the BC-group than in the C-group (28% vs. 12.3%; p=0.009). Histologically, there is no statistical significant difference between the three groups. CONCLUSION: Dual hepatitis B/C infection is not uncommon and their virologic and histologic profile is modest. Further evaluation with regard to treatment and long-term follow-up is warranted.
Authors: Nikolaos Papadopoulos; Maria Papavdi; Anna Pavlidou; Dimitris Konstantinou; Hariklia Kranidioti; George Kontos; John Koskinas; George V Papatheodoridis; Spilios Manolakopoulos; Melanie Deutsch Journal: Ann Gastroenterol Date: 2018-03-28