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Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with acute hepatitis B

Hepatitis C Virus-Infektionen bei Patienten mit akuter B-Hepatitis

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Summary

The prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis C virus (anti-HCV) was studied using a second-generation ELISA test in 121 patients with self-limiting acute hepatitis B, including 63 intravenous drug addicts (IVDA). Within the first month after the onset of illness, 47.1% of the patients were anti-HCV positive, this figure reaching 52.1% six months later. The prevalence in the sixth month was significantly higher in the IVDA (93.6%) than in the non-IVDA (6.9%) (p<0.00001). Among the IVDA, anti-HCV was more frequent in those with (100%) than in those without hepatitis delta virus (HDV) coinfection (84.6%) (p=0.004). Of the 63 anti-HCV positive patients, 36 (57.1%) continued to exhibit abnormal transmainase levels for more than six months, while this was not observed in anti-HCV negative patients. These results show a high prevalence of infection by hepatitis C virus (HCV) in IVDA with acute B hepatitis. As a rule, infection by HCV occurred prior to the hepatitis B infection, although occasionally simultaneous infections were observed. HCV appears to be the agent responsible for chronic liver disease in patients with acute B hepatitis who become HBsAg negative.

Zusammenfassung

Bei 121 Patienten mit akuter, spontan heilender Hepatitis B, unter denen auch 63 intravenös Drogenabhängige waren, wurden mit einem ELISA-Test der zweiten Generation auf Hepatitis C-Virus-Antikörper untersucht. Im ersten Monat nach Krankheitsbeginn waren 47,1% der Patienten anti-HCV-positiv, sechs Monate später 52,1%. Bei den intravenös Drogenabhängigen war die Antikörperprävalenz nach sechs Monaten mit 93,6% signifikant höher als bei den nicht Drogenabhängigen (6,9%; p=0,00001). Drogenabhängige mit Koinfektion durch Hepatitis Delta-Virus waren zu 100% anti-HCV-positiv, ohne Delta Virus-Infektion zu 84,6% (p=0,004). Bei 36 der 63 anti-HCV-positiven Patienten (57,1%) waren länger als sechs Monate pathologisch erhöhte Transaminasenspiegel festzustellen. Bei anti-HCV- negativen Patienten war dies nicht der Fall. Diese Ergebnisse belegen, daß bei intravenös Drogenabhängigen mit akuter Hepatitis B häufig eine HCV- Infektion vorliegt. Bei den meisten war die HCV-Infektion vor der B-Hepatitis aufgetreten, in einigen Fällen war eine simultane Infektion festzustellen. HCV scheint für die chronische Lebererkrankung bei Patienten mit akuter B- Hepatitis, die HBsAg-negativ werden, verantwortlich zu sein.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Gastroenterology Unit, Hospital Covadonga, Celestino Villamil s/n, E-33006, Oviedo, Spain

    M. Rodríguez M. D., Carmen A. Navascués M. D., A. Suárez M. D., N. G. Sotorrio M. D., A. Linares M. D., R. Pérez Ph. D. & L. Rodrigo Ph. D.

  2. Microbiology Unit, Hospital Covadonga, Celestino Villamil s/n, E-33006, Oviedo, Spain

    Ana Martínez M. D. & R. Cimadevilla M. D.

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  1. M. Rodríguez M. D.
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  2. Carmen A. Navascués M. D.
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  3. A. Suárez M. D.
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  5. A. Linares M. D.
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  6. R. Pérez Ph. D.
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  7. L. Rodrigo Ph. D.
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  8. Ana Martínez M. D.
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Rodríguez, M., Navascués, C.A., Suárez, A. et al. Hepatitis C virus infection in patients with acute hepatitis B. Infection 20, 316–319 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710674

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01710674

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