Epidemiological and clinical burden of chronic hepatitis B virus/hepatitis C virus infection. A multicenter Italian study.
OBJECTIVE
This study assess prevalence, risk factors, and clinical and virological features of dual hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.


METHODS
We evaluated 837 hepatitis B surface antigen positive patients, prospectively enrolled in 14 Italian units.


RESULTS
Anti-HCV was present in 59 cases (7%); age specific prevalences were 4.5% (0-30 years), 4.4% (>30-50) and 14% (>50). Independent predictors of dual infection were age >42 years, history of I.V. drug use (IDU), blood transfusion and residence in the South of the country. The strength of the association with IDU was high, but this exposure accounted for five coinfection cases only. Cirrhosis was present in 107 of the 709 patients with HBV alone (15.1%), in 30 of 69 with hepatitis D virus coinfection (43%) and in 17 of 59 with HCV coinfection (28.8%); a light alcohol use was marginally associated with cirrhosis. Of 36 B/C coinfected patients, 16 (44.4%) had only HBV-DNA in serum, (median age=47.5 years) five (13.9%) had both HBV-DNA and HCV-RNA (age=53), nine (25%) had HCV-RNA alone (age=59) and six (16.7%) tested negative for both.


CONCLUSIONS
This study depicts the epidemiological and clinical burden of dual HBV/HCV infection in Italy.
Gaeta
Giovanni B
GB
Department of Medicine and Public Health, Unit of Infectious Diseases, Second University of Naples, Via Cotugno, 1 C/O Osp. Gesù e Maria, 80135 Naples, Italy. giovannib.gaeta@unina2.it
Stornaiuolo
Gianfranca
G
Precone
Davide F
DF
Lobello
Salvatore
S
Chiaramonte
Maria
M
Stroffolini
Tommaso
T
Colucci
Giuseppe
G
Rizzetto
Mario
M
D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000821:virology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies