Relationship of serum markers of hepatitis B and C virus replication in coinfected patients.
To evaluate viral interference between hepatitis B and C, we studied coinfected patients serologically and molecular biologically. Twenty-seven patients positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibody, were classified into Groups BC-L and BC-H according to DNA-polymerase activity (less or greater than 100 cpm, respectively). Patients with hepatitis B or C alone were also enrolled as controls. HCV-RNA was detected more often in Group BC-L than in Group BC-H. Genotype 1b of HCV was determined in 75% of Group BC-H, 87.5% of Group BC-L, and 70.7% of hepatitis C-only patients. Activity of DNA-polymerase in coinfected patients was lower in patients positive for HCV-RNA as compared with those negative. HBsAg titers tended to be lower in coinfected patients than in patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) alone. In conclusion, in coinfection, HBV may suppress the replication of HCV and HCV appears to reduce the expression of HBsAg and probably suppresses HBV replication.
Tsuji
H
H
First Department of Internal Medicine, Okayama University Medical School, Japan.
Shimomura
H
H
Fujio
K
K
Wato
M
M
Kondo
J
J
Hasui
T
T
Ishii
Y
Y
Fujioka
S
S
Tsuji
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000502:physiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D012367:RNA, Viral