Hepatitis B and C single and co-infection in chronic liver disease and their effect on the disease pattern.
OBJECTIVE
To find the frequency of hepatitis B and C virus (HBV and HCV) infection and their coinfection in chronic liver disease and any differences in the clinical features of single and coinfections. METHODOLGY: All clinically recognisable adult CLD patients admitted to Military Hospital, Rawalpindi in years 1999-2000, were included in the study. Their history and clinical features were recorded. Seromarkers for HBV (HBsAg, anti-HBc) and HCV (anti-HCV) were done.


RESULTS
A total of 97 (52 male, 45 female) patients were included in the study. Mean age was 51.6 years (range 16-75 years). Cirrhosis was present in 74.2%, chronic hepatitis (Ch Hep) in 18.6% and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 7.2%. Among the 74.1% patients with cirrhosis 28.5% were HBsAg positive, 55.5% anti-HBc positive and 68.1% anti HCV positive. In the chronic hepatitis cases 27.8% were HBsAg positive, 23.6% anti-HBc positive and 61.1% anti HCV positive. Among the patients of HCC 59.7% were HBsAg positive, 71.4% anti-HBc positive and 42% anti HCV positive. Regarding coinfection 7.2% were anti-HCV and HBsAg positive while 35.1% were anti-HCV and anti-HBc positive.


CONCLUSIONS
Ninety percent of patients with CLD had evidence of HBV, HCV or coinfection. Disease was more severe in patients with coinfection. Anti-HBc was found to be a sensitive indicator of past HBV.
Bukhtiari
N
N
Pakistan-US Laboratory for Sero-Epidemiology, Army Medical College, Rawalpindi.
Hussain
T
T
Iqbal
M
M
Malik
A M
AM
Qureshi
A H
AH
Hussain
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003906:Developing Countries; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008111:Liver Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D011336:Probability; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors