Hepatitis B, C, and D virus infections in patients with chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma: a comparative study in Niger.
Eighty-nine Sahelian African patients with chronic active hepatitis (CAH) (14), cirrhosis (49), hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (26), and 47 controls were tested for hepatitis B virus (HBV, hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg]) and hepatitis D virus (HDV, anti-HDV antibody). Seventy-three percent of the patients were positive for HBsAg versus 29.8% of the controls (P < 0.0001). With anti-HDV test, 55.0% of the patients were positive versus 17.0% of the controls (P < 0.0001). To assess the prevalence of antibody to hepatitis C virus (HCV), we used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for screening (anti-HCV2): 19.1% of the patients were positive versus 6.4% of the controls (P < 0.05). An association between HBsAg and anti-HDV-positive test results was found in 46.1% of the patients versus 6.4% of the controls (P < 0.0001). A combination of HBsAg and anti-HCV2-positive test results was found in 13.5% of the patients versus 2.2% of the controls (P < 0.05). Anti-HDV and anti-HCV2 test results were positive in 13.5% of the patients versus 2.2% of the controls (P < 0.05). Triple-positive test results (HBsAg, anti-HDV, and anti-HCV2) were found in 11.2% of the patients but in none of the controls (P < 0.025). Triple-negative test results were found in 14.6% of the patients versus 57.4% of the controls (P < 0.0001). The predominant association of the chronic HBV infection with CAH, cirrhosis, and HCC is confirmed in Sahelian Africa. The HDV superinfection (chronic HBV plus HDV infections) may be a major etiology.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Cenac
A
A
Service de Medecine Interne, Hopital National, Niamey, Niger.
Pedroso
M L
ML
Djibo
A
A
Develoux
M
M
Pichoud
C
C
Lamothe
F
F
Trepo
C
C
Warter
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D003699:Hepatitis D / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D003698:Hepatitis Delta Virus / Q000276:immunology; D006521:Hepatitis, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006525:Hepatitis, Viral, Human / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009548:Niger / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence
D006508:Hepatitis Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies