Hepatitis B/C virus co-infection in Iran: a seroepidemiological study.
OBJECTIVE
As hepatitis B and C virus have the same transmission routes, dual infection may occur. The aim of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of HCV in HBsAg-positive subjects.


METHODS
139 HBsAg-positive subjects were enrolled in the study. Serum samples were tested using ELISA method for anti-HCV antibodies. Chi-square and Fisher's exact tests were used to compare the proportions.


RESULTS
There were 68 (48.9%) males and 71 (51.1%) females. The mean age was 41.89+/-11.30 years. One case was excluded because of inadequate blood sampling. Anti-HCV antibody was positive in 17 (12.3%) of the 138 remaining subjects. Seropositivity of HCV was similar between female and male patients (p=0.69).


CONCLUSIONS
The seroprevalence of co-infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus in our study was higher than such reports from some countries (Italy), but was in line with worldwide prevalence (>10%).
Semnani
Shahryar
S
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan Research Center, Iran. sh_semnani@yahoo.com
Roshandel
Gholamreza
G
Abdolahi
Nafiseh
N
Besharat
Sima
S
Keshtkar
Abbas-Ali
AA
Joshaghani
Hamidreza
H
Moradi
Abdolvahab
A
Kalavi
Khodaberdi
K
Jabbari
Ali
A
Kabir
Mohammad Javad
MJ
Hosseini
Seyed Ahmad
SA
Sedaqat
Seyed Mehdi
SM
Danesh
Ahmad
A
Roshandel
Danyal
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012494:Sampling Studies; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies
D000914:Antibodies, Viral