title: Historical study of acute hepatitis B in subjects with or without hepatitis C infection.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The epidemiological pattern of hepatitis B virus infection in Italy has greatly changed over the past decades. The aim of the study was to evaluate during time the epidemiological features of acute hepatitis B cases referred to an Infectious Disease Unit in North-East of Italy between 1978 and 1995.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stored sera of 183 cases were tested for HBV markers, HBV genotypes, anti-Delta and anti-HCV.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anti-HBcIgM was positive in all cases. Mean age increased from 30.2 years in 1978 to 37.5 in 1995 (P<0.01). Significant increase was observed in proportion of cases reporting intravenous drug use from 11.5% to 29.6% (P<0.03). Chronicity rate was as low as 1.1%. Mean days of hospitalization significantly decreased. HBV genotype determination showed that majority of cases was infected by genotype D, but its prevalence decreased from 88.2% in 1978 to 75.0% in 1995. Delta coinfection was present in 8.2%. The prevalence of HCV in patients with acute HBV was 35.0%; it fluctuated from 26.2% to 44.2%, mostly related (53.1%) to intravenous drug use. Dual infection did not lead to a more severe course of disease.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From this retrospective study, remarkable fluctuations in the prevalence of dual HBV-HCV infection before the implementation of HBV vaccination were observed. Presence of anti-HCV did not affect the course of acute HBV.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Diseases Unit, Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stroffolini
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rapicetta
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chionne
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Madonna
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Candido
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taffon
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Elke
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ermg
authors.forename: Flavia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bortolotti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D060085:Coinfection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D017325:Hepatitis B Vaccines