Journal Article

Replication Inhibition of Hepatitis B Virus and Hepatitis C Virus in Co-Infected Patients in Chinese Population

Kong, Fei, Chi, Xiumei, Wu, Ruihong, Huang, Xinxing, Jin, Jinglan, Feng, Xiangwei, Gao, Yuanda, Yu, Ge, Zhong, Jin, Tu, Zhengkun, Wang, Xiaomei, Pan, Yu, Qi, Yue, Gao, Xiuzhu, Sun, Bing, Niu, Junqi

2015

Overview

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) co-infections contributes to a substantial proportion of liver disease worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical and virological features of HBV-HCV co-infection. Demographic data were collected for 3238 high-risk people from an HCV-endemic region in China. Laboratory tests included HCV antibody and HBV serological markers, liver function tests, and routine blood analysis. Anti-HCV positive samples were analyzed for HCV RNA levels and subgenotypes. HBsAg-positive samples were tested for HBV DNA. A total of 1468 patients had chronic HCV and/or HBV infections. Among them, 1200 individuals were classified as HCV mono-infected, 161 were classified as HBV mono-infected, and 107 were classified as co-infected. The HBV-HCV co-infected patients not only had a lower HBV DNA positive rate compared to HBV mono-infected patients (84.1% versus 94.4%, respectively; P < 0.001). The median HCV RNA levels in HBV-HCV co-infected patients were significantly lower than those in the HCV mono-infected patients (1.18[Interquartile range (IQR) 0-5.57] versus 5.87[IQR, 3.54-6.71] Log10 IU/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). Furthermore, co-infected patients were less likely to have detectable HCV RNA levels than HCV mono-infected patients (23.4% versus 56.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Those HBV-HCV co-infected patients had significantly lower median HBV DNA levels than those mono-infected with HBV (1.97[IQR, 1.3-3.43] versus 3.06[IQR, 2-4.28] Log10 IU/mL, respectively; P < 0.001). The HBV-HCV co-infection group had higher ALT, AST, ALP, GGT, APRI and FIB-4 levels, but lower ALB and total platelet compared to the HBV mono-infection group, and similar to that of the HCV mono-infected group. These results suggest that co-infection with HCV and HBV inhibits the replication of both viruses. The serologic results of HBV-HCV co-infection in patients suggests more liver injury compared to HBV mono-infected patients, but is similar to HCV mono-infection.

• Publisher: Public Library of Science,Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subject: Adult / Aged / Analysis / Antigens / China / Cohort Studies / Coinfection - blood / Coinfection - pathology / Coinfection - virology / Demographics / Deoxyribonucleic acid / DNA / Education / Female / Gastroenterology / Health aspects / Hepacivirus - physiology / Hepatitis / Hepatitis B / Hepatitis B - blood / Hepatitis B - complications / Hepatitis B - pathology / Hepatitis B - virology / Hepatitis B surface antigen / Hepatitis B virus / Hepatitis B virus - physiology / Hepatitis C / Hepatitis C - blood / Hepatitis C - complications / Hepatitis C - pathology / Hepatitis C - virology / Hepatitis C virus / Hepatology / Hospitals / Humans / Infections / Infectious diseases / Interferon / Laboratories / Laboratory tests / Liver / Liver - pathology / Liver diseases / Male / Middle Aged / Multivariate analysis / Patients / Physiological aspects / Replication / Ribonucleic acid / RNA / Viral research / Virology / Virus Replication / Viruses / Zoonoses