Long-term outcome of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus co-infection and single HBV infection acquired in youth

✍ Scribed by Rosa Zampino; Aldo Marrone; Antonietta Merola; Barbara Trani; Grazia Cirillo; Peter Karayiannis; Nicola Coppola; Rosario Zappalà; Riccardo Utili; Giuseppe Ruggiero; Luigi E. Adinolfi

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2009
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 111 KB
• Volume: 81
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0146-6615
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.21560

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Co‐infection with HBV and HCV seems to be associated with more severe liver disease in retrospective and cross‐sectional studies in adults, but no data are available when co‐infection is acquired in youth. The long‐term outcome of infection acquired in youth was assessed in patients co‐infected with HBV and HCV and in patients with HBV infection only. Twenty‐seven patients with HBV and HCV co‐infection and 27 patients infected with HBV only were enrolled. Seventy‐six per cent of the patients were treated with α‐interferon for 1 year. After a median follow‐up of 23 years, the annual progression rate of fibrosis was 0.07 in patients co‐infected with HBV and HCV, and in those infected with HBV it was 0.07 and 0.11 (P < 0.004) for HBe and anti‐HBe‐positive patients, respectively. In co‐infected patients, the development of cirrhosis was observed in 2 (7.4%) and of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in 1 (3.7%), while in those with HBV, cirrhosis appeared in one patient (3.7%). Alcohol intake (OR = 9.5 ± 1.2; 95% CI = 6.6–13.9; P < 0.0001) was independently associated with cirrhosis and HCC. α‐interferon showed no efficacy during treatment, but the treated group showed higher HCV RNA clearance during post‐treatment follow‐up. Co‐infection with HBV and HCV and single HBV infection acquired in youth showed a low rate of progression to liver fibrosis, no liver failure, and low development of HCC during a median follow‐up of 23 years (range 17–40). J. Med. Virol. 81:2012–2020, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.