Background and aim: Acute hepatitis B course may be significantly modified by underlying chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and virological characteristics of acute hepatitis B in patients with or without chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Materials and methods: Twenty-seven patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis B were enrolled: 14 with underlying chronic HCV (Group A) and 13, matched by age and gender, with single hepatitis B (Group B). All patients were followed-up until HBsAg negativization. Results: Group A patients were HCV-RNA-negative on hospital admission and all but one remained negative during follow-up. HBeAg tested positive in 92.9% and 84.6% of Groups A and B patients, respectively. ALT, bilirubin, prothrombin time values and HBsAg titer were similar in both groups. Nevertheless, lower mean HBV-DNA Levels (p = 0.03), a shorter duration of HBsAg positivity (p < 0.01) and of symptoms before ALT peak (p = 0.014), and significantly tower peak ALT values (p = 0.03) were observed in Group A compared to Group B patients. Conclusions: Acute HBV infection suppressed HCV replication. Conversely, the underlying HCV infection exerted a modulatory effect on HBV replication which influenced the course, though not the outcome, of the acute disease. Although acute hepatitis B showed a mild clinical course in both groups of patients, HBV vaccination should be suggested to risk subjects. (c) 2008 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Acute hepatitis B in patients with or without underlying chronic HCV infection / Biliotti, Elisa; L. A., Kondili; Furlan, Caterina; Ferretti, GIAN CARLO; S., Zacharia; DE ANGELIS, Maria Grazia; Guidi, Silvia; Gusman, Norberto; Taliani, Gloria. - In: JOURNAL OF INFECTION. - ISSN 0163-4453. - 57:2(2008), pp. 152-157. [10.1016/j.jinf.2008.04.006]
Acute hepatitis B in patients with or without underlying chronic HCV infection
BILIOTTI, ELISA;FURLAN, Caterina;FERRETTI, GIAN CARLO;DE ANGELIS, Maria Grazia;GUIDI, SILVIA;GUSMAN, Norberto;TALIANI, Gloria
2008
Abstract
Background and aim: Acute hepatitis B course may be significantly modified by underlying chronic hepatitis C. The aim of this study was to compare clinical and virological characteristics of acute hepatitis B in patients with or without chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Materials and methods: Twenty-seven patients with symptomatic acute hepatitis B were enrolled: 14 with underlying chronic HCV (Group A) and 13, matched by age and gender, with single hepatitis B (Group B). All patients were followed-up until HBsAg negativization. Results: Group A patients were HCV-RNA-negative on hospital admission and all but one remained negative during follow-up. HBeAg tested positive in 92.9% and 84.6% of Groups A and B patients, respectively. ALT, bilirubin, prothrombin time values and HBsAg titer were similar in both groups. Nevertheless, lower mean HBV-DNA Levels (p = 0.03), a shorter duration of HBsAg positivity (p < 0.01) and of symptoms before ALT peak (p = 0.014), and significantly tower peak ALT values (p = 0.03) were observed in Group A compared to Group B patients. Conclusions: Acute HBV infection suppressed HCV replication. Conversely, the underlying HCV infection exerted a modulatory effect on HBV replication which influenced the course, though not the outcome, of the acute disease. Although acute hepatitis B showed a mild clinical course in both groups of patients, HBV vaccination should be suggested to risk subjects. (c) 2008 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.