The significance of antibody to hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis B.
We assessed the prevalence and clinical significance of antibodies to hepatitis C virus among a cohort of 148 patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection. Sixteen patients (11%) had anti-hepatitis C virus detectable by enzyme-linked immunoassay. The results from eight of these patients were positive by recombinant immunoblot assay. The results of recombinant immunoblot assay testing were not consistent; therefore the analysis of the patients' data was based on anti-hepatitis C virus enzyme-linked immunoassay results. Patients with chronic hepatitis B with anti-hepatitis C virus were more likely to be cirrhotic (44% vs. 21%) and to have decompensated liver disease (24% vs. 6%). Hepatitis B virus replication appeared to be suppressed in patients with both infections as measured by hepatitis B virus-associated DNA polymerase activity (mean = 2,055 vs. 2,555 cpm). Human immunodeficiency virus infection was more common in the anti-hepatitis C virus positive group (36% vs. 11%). Thus hepatitis C virus appears to suppress hepatitis B virus replication and to cause more severe liver disease in patients with chronic hepatitis B infection.
Fong
T L
TL
Liver Diseases Section, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Di Bisceglie
A M
AM
Waggoner
J G
JG
Banks
S M
SM
Hoofnagle
J H
JH
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D015151:Immunoblotting; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D004259:DNA-Directed DNA Polymerase