Impact of acute hepatitis C virus superinfection in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus infection

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Superinfection in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is not uncommon. Acute hepatitis delta virus (HDV) superinfection is associated with severe and/or progressive liver disease. The natural course following acute hepatitis C virus (HCV) superinfection has not been well studied. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of acute HCV superinfection. METHODS: The clinical features during acute phase and long-term outcomes of acute HCV superinfection were studied and compared with a cohort of acute HDV superinfection and a matched control group of active chronic hepatitis B. RESULTS: Acute HCV superinfection typically occurs as acute icteric hepatitis. The severity is similar to acute HDV superinfection in that hepatic decompensation developed in 34% of patients, hepatitis failure occurred in 11%, and 10% died. During a follow-up period of 1-21 years, patients with acute HCV superinfection had a significantly higher cumulated incidence of cirrhosis (48% at 10 years) and hepatocellular carcinoma (14% at 10 years, 21% at 15 years, and 32% at 20 years) than acute HDV superinfection or active chronic hepatitis B. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance occurred earlier in HCV superinfected patients. Continuing hepatitis after HBsAg seroclearance was observed only in HCV superinfected patients. CONCLUSIONS: Acute HCV superinfection in patients with chronic HBV infection is clinically severe during its acute phase. The long-term prognosis following acute HCV superinfection is much worse than that following HDV superinfection or active hepatitis B in terms of continuing hepatitis activity after HBsAg loss and the development of cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma.     

Clearance of hepatitis B surface antigen in chronic carriers of hepatitis delta antibodies

Abstract: Background/Aims: We evaluated the rate of seroclearance of the hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and its clinical significance in patients with chronic hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Methods: Antibody to HDV was tested in HBsAg‐positive subjects admitted to our Hospital from 1991 to 1995. In 1997, a biochemical and virologic study was performed in the surviving anti‐HD‐positive patients who had not undergone transplantation. As a control, a cohort of 106 HBsAg‐positive, anti‐HD‐negative patients was studied. Results: One hundred and forty‐one subjects were originally positive for anti‐HD. After 4 years of follow‐up, six of the 60 patients who underwent re‐evaluation (10%) had cleared the HBsAg: three of the six patients had minimal changes at the initial liver histology and normal ALT, whereas in the remaining three patients with chronic active hepatitis ALT normalized during the observation. Anti‐HD persisted in five of the six patients. Only one patient had raised anti‐HBs. In contrast, three of 106 HBsAg carriers without HDV infection (2.8%) cleared the HBsAg within the same time and seroconverted to anti‐HBs (p=0.002). Conclusion: HBsAg clearance is increased over the years in HDV patients compared to ordinary HBsAg carriers, and is often associated with improvement of HDV disease without seroconversion to anti‐HBs.     

Hepatic HLA antigen display in chronic hepatitis B virus infection

To determine the relationship between hepatitis B virus (HBV) replication and HLA antigen display at a cellular level, the hepatic expression of HLA antigens and HBV genome (HBV-DNA)/gene products (HB_sAg/HB_cAg) was studied in 24 patients with chronic HBV infection using simultaneously immunohistochemistry and nonisotopicin situ hybridization. The effect of interferon- and interferon- on hepatocyte HLA antigen expression was also evaluated using primary hepatocyte culture in eight patients with chronic HBV infection. HLA class I antigens were detected on hepatocyte membrane in 23 patients (95.8%). Hepatocytes positive for HB_cAg and HBV-DNA (cytoplasmic ± nuclear) were either negative or only faintly positive for HLA class I antigens, while hepatocytes positive for HB_sAg showed similar levels of HLA class I antigen expression compared with those hepatocytes with no HB_sAg expression. In contrast, hepatocytes adjacent to inflammatory infiltrates, whether positive for HBV-DNA or HBV antigens or not, were always strongly positive for HLA class I antigens. Furthermore, active liver histology (N=12) was associated with a higher overall level of hepatic HLA class I antigen expression as compared with inactive histology (N=12,P=0.003). Both interferon- and interferon- treatmentin vitro enhanced hepatocyte HLA class I antigen expression. These data indicate that expression of HLA class I antigens is not enhanced on the membrane of hepatocytes with HBV replication, and this may be one factor that permits the development of viral persistence.     

Comparison of liver histopathology between chronic hepatitis C patients and chronic hepatitis B and C-coinfected patients

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the histological characteristics of livers between chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients with and without hepatitis B virus (HBV) coinfection. METHODS: A total of 336 CHC patients (male/female: 204/132, mean age: 46.1 +/- 11.7 years) were enrolled in the study; 32 patients (9.8%) were positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). The histological characteristics of livers were described according to the Knodell and Scheuer scoring system. RESULTS: The proportion of non-intralobular necrosis (score 0) was significantly lower and the mean intralobular necrosis score was higher among CHC patients with HBV coinfection than those without coinfection (43.8% vs 64.5%; 0.84 +/- 1.05 vs 0.53 +/- 0.89). The epidemiological and virological parameters, and other histological scores (periportal necrosis, portal inflammation, total necroinflammation and fibrosis) were not significantly different between these two groups. CONCLUSION: Chronic hepatitis C patients with HBV coinfection tend to have more severe intralobular necrosis than those with isolated HCV infection.     

Ribavirin treatment for chronic hepatitis D: a pilot study

To assess whether therapy with Ribavirin may affect the course of chronic delta hepatitis, nine Italian patients with this disease received the drug orally at a dosage of 15 mg/kg daily for 16 weeks. At the end of the therapy period, all patients were followed for 12 additional months. Seven patients completed the trial. Two patients were withdrawn: one developed hemolytic anemia, and the other intractable itching. At the end of treatment HD viremia was reduced in one patient, had cleared in another, and was unchanged in the remaining five patients. None of the patients decreased their alanine transferase (ALT) levels by more than 50%. At the doses given in this study. Ribarivin did not show significant antiviral effects in chronic hepatitis D, and was not effective in reducing the biochemical markers of liver inflammation and necrosis.     

Antibody to hepatitis B core antigen as a screening test for occult hepatitis B virus infection in Egyptian chronic hepatitis C patients

Purpose  The presence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in liver tissue and/or in serum in the absence of detectable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is called occult HBV infection. This pattern was identified in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. The aim of this study was to determine the role of antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen (anti-HBc) as a screening test for occult HBV infection in Egyptian chronic HCV patients. Methods  One hundred chronic HCV patients negative for HBsAg were included and subdivided into two groups according to anti-HBc-IgG seroreactivity. Group A included 71 patients positive for anti-HBc (53 men and 18 women, mean age ± SD 48.8 ± 9.6 years), and group B included 29 patients negative for anti-HBc (18 men and 11 women, mean age ± SD 46.6 ± 11.7 years). All patients were subjected to full clinical assessment, routine laboratory investigations, abdominal ultrasonography and quantification of HBV-DNA by real-time PCR. Results  Chronic HCV patients positive for anti-HBc have more severe liver disease compared with anti-HBc negative patients. Although HBV-DNA in the serum was detected in 22.5% of anti-HBc-positive chronic HCV patients, it was not detected in any of anti-HBc-negative chronic HCV patients. There was no significant difference in any of the clinical and laboratory data tested between anti-HBc-positive patients with and without HBV-DNA in the serum. Conclusion  A significant number of patients with anti-HBc had detectable levels of HBV-DNA in the serum. Egyptian chronic HCV patients have a high prevalence of occult HBV infection.     

Autoantibodies and hepatitis C virus genotypes in chronic hepatitis C patients in Estonia

AIM: To determine the prevalence of several autoantibodies in chronic hepatitis C patients, and to find out whether the pattern of autoantibodies was associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotypes. METHODS: Sera from 90 consecutive patients with chronic hepatitis C were investigated on the presence of anti-nuclear (ANA), anti-mitochondrial (AMA), anti-smooth muscle (SMA), anti-liver-kidney microsomal type 1 (LKMA1), anti-parietal cell (PCA), anti-thyroid microsomal (TMA), and anti-reticulin (ARA) autoantibodies. The autoantibodies were identified by indirect immunofluorescence. HCV genotypes were determined by a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the amplified 5' noncoding genome region. RESULTS: Forty-six (51.1%) patients were positive for at least one autoantibody. Various antibodies were presented as follows: ANA in 13 (14.4%) patients, SMA in 39 (43.3%), TMA in 2 (2.2%), and ARA in 1 (1.1%) patients. In 9 cases, sera were positive for two autoantibodies (ANA and SMA). AMA, PCA and LKMAI were not detected in the observed sera. HCV genotypes were distributed as follows: 1b in 66 (73.3%) patients, 3a in 18 (20.0%), and 2a in 6 (6.7%) patients. CONCLUSION: A high prevalence of ANA and SMA can be found in chronic hepatitis C patients. Autoantibodies are present at low titre (1:10) in most of the cases. Distribution of the autoantibodies show no differences in the sex groups and between patients infected with different HCV genotypes.     

Challenge of managing hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infections in resource-limited settings

The global burden of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and coinfection represents a major public health concern, particularly in resource-limited settings. Elimination of HCV by 2030 has become foreseeable, with effective direct-acting antiviral oral therapies and the availability of affordable generics in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). However, access to oral nucleos(t)ide therapy for HBV remains critical and is limited outside the existing global HIV program platforms despite affordable prices. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HBV through scaling up of birth dose implementation in LMICs is essential to achieve the 2030 elimination goal. Most individuals living with HBV and/or HCV in resource-limited settings are unaware of their infection, and with improved access to medications, the most significant barrier remains access to affordable diagnostics and preventive strategies. The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic interrupted hepatitis elimination programs, albeit offered opportunities for improved diagnostic capacities and raised political awareness of the critical need for strengthening health care services and universal health coverage. This review underpins the HBV and HCV management challenges in resource-limited settings, highlighting the current status and suggested future elimination strategies in some of these countries. Global efforts should continue to improve awareness and political commitment. Financial resources should be secured to access and implement comprehensive strategies for diagnosis and linkage to care in resource-constrained settings to fulfill the 2030 elimination goal.     

乙型肝炎病毒cccDNA定量与乙型肝炎临床及病理关系

目的探讨慢性乙型肝炎（CHB）肝组织HBVcccDNA定量与乙型肝炎的关系。方法分别采用荧光定量PCR、酶联免疫吸附分析法（ELISA）检测48例CHB肝组织HBVcccDNA定量、肝组织和血清HB VDNA定量、乙型肝炎病毒标志物。同时用链霉菌抗生素蛋白-过氧化物酶连接法（SP）检测肝细胞中HBcAg表达。分析肝组织HBVcccDNA与组织和血清HBV DNA、HBeAg、肝细胞内HBcAg水平及肝脏炎症活动度的关系.结果1．肝组织HBVcccDNA定量与组织和血清HBV DNA定量呈正相关（r=0．837，P〈0．001；r=0．627，P〈0．005）；2．肝组织HBV cccDNA定量与肝细胞内HBcAg半定量呈正相关（r=0．618，P〈0．005）；3．肝组织HBV cccDNA定量与肝脏炎症活动度尤明显相关（P〉0．05）：4．HBeAg阳性较抗-HBe阳性患者肝组织HBV cccDNA定量、肝组织和血清HBV DNA定量高（P〈0．05）。结论荧光定量PCR法检测肝组织HBV cccDNA定量是评价HBV复制最直接可靠的指标，在CHB的诊断和抗病毒治疗中有重要意义。但与肝组织炎症无明显相关。     

YMDD耐药变异与HLA等位基因多态性的相关性

目的：初步探讨慢性乙型肝炎(CHB)患者拉米夫定治疗中YMDD变异与HLA-A,B,DRB1各位点等位基因分布频率的相关性．方法：对142例CHB患者,采用荧光标记杂交双探针PCR融解曲线法(FH-PCR-MC)检测血浆HBV YMDD变异；对其中56例患者的外周血白细胞,采用序列特异性引物/聚合酶链式反应(PCR-SSP)技术检测人类白细胞表面抗原等位基因(HLA-A-B,DRB1)分型．结果：在用拉米夫定治疗的142例CHB患者中,YMDD变异率为56．3％．HLA-B~*58和DRB1~*03等位基因分布频率在YMDD变异组与YMDD野生组比较有显著性降低(0．013 vs 0．094,P=0．036；0．000 vs 0．063,P=0．024)；HLA-A~*30等位基因分布频率在YIDD组明显增高,与YVDD组比较差异显著(0．158 vs 0．024,P=0．034)；HLA-A~*33等位基因分布频率在YVDD变异组明显增高,与YIDD变异组比较差异显著(0．119 vs 0．000,P=0．028)．结论：YMDD耐药变异与HLA等位基因多态性有一定相关性．携有HLA-B~*58和DRB1~*03等位基因的个体感染的HBV可能不易发生YMDD变异；携有HLA-A~*30等位基因的个体感染的HBV可能易发生YIDD变异：携有HLA-A~*33等位基因的个体感染的HBV可能易发生YVDD变异．     

A comparative review of HLA associations with hepatitis B and C viral infections across global populations

Hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis C (HCV) viral infection or co-infection leads to risk of development of chronic infection, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Immigration and globalization have added to the challenges of public health concerns regarding chronic HBV and HCV infections worldwide. The aim of this study is to review existing global literature across ethnic populations on HBV and HCV related human leukocyte antigen (HLA) associations in relation to susceptibility, viral persistence and treatment. Extensive literature search was conducted to explore the HLA associations in HBV and HCV infections reported across global populations over the past decade to understand the knowledge status, weaknesses and strengths of this information in different ethnic populations. HLA DR13 is consistently associated with HBV clearance globally. HLADRB1*11/*12 alleles and DQB1*0301 are associated with HBV persistence but with HCV clearance worldwide. Consistent association of DRB1*03 and *07 is observed with HCV susceptibility and non-responsiveness to HBV vaccination across the population. HLA DR13 is protective for vertical HBV and HCV transmission in Chinese and Italian neonates, but different alleles are associated with their susceptibility in these populations. HLA class Ⅰmolecule interactions with Killer cell immunoglobulin like receptors (KIR) of natural killer (NK) cells modulate HCV infection outcome via regulating immune regulatory cells and molecules. HLA associations with HBV vaccination, interferon therapy in HBV and HCV, and with extra hepatic manifestations of viral hepatitis are also discussed. Systematic studies in compliance with global regulatory standards are required to identify the HLA specific viral epitope, stage specific T cell populations interacting with different HLA alleles during disease progression and viral clearance of chronic HBV or HCV infections among different ethnic populations. These studies would facilitate stage specific therapeutic strategies for clearance of HBV and HCV infections or co-infections across global populations and aid in identification of HBV-HCV combined vaccine. HLA associations of chronic HBV or HCV development with confounding host factors including alcohol, drug abuse, insulin resistance, age and gender are lacking and warrant detailed investigation across global populations.     

Neuropsychological function in Greek patients with chronic hepatitis C.

BACKGROUND: Research has shown that hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is associated with subclinical neuropsychological deficits in the absence of hepatic encephalopathy. METHODS: The current study assessed 32 Greek HCV patients without hepatic encephalopathy using standardized neuropsychological measures and compared them with 20 healthy controls and 29 hepatitis B virus (HBV)-infected patients. Patients and controls did not differ on age, educational level, depression or fatigue severity. Moreover, strict criteria were used to exclude any risk factor for cognitive impairment. RESULTS: Chronic HCV patients performed significantly worse than healthy controls on verbal learning and memory (P=0.029). However, hepatitis C and hepatitis B patients were similarly impaired in cognitive function, suggesting that the observed abnormalities are not HCV specific. HCV patients' cognitive capacity was further associated with liver disease severity as indicated by fibrosis stage (r=-0.602, P=0.011). In contrast, cognitive decline did not correlate with patients' psychological distress, indicating that biological mechanisms might be implicated in its pathogenesis. Finally, after controlling for age and educational level, cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic patients appeared to be equally impaired. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, this study confirmed previous findings and added further to the existing literature concerning the negative influence of HCV infection on cognition.     

Evidence for hepatitis B virus infection in patients with chronic hepatitis C with and without serological markers of hepatitis B

To assess the influence of HBV infection on anti-HCV-positive chronic liver disease, we performed a prospective case-control study comparing 19 HBsAg-positive, anti-HCV-positive patients with 38 HBsAg-negative, anti-HCV-positive patients, pair-matched for age, sex, and ALT levels. HBV and HCV infections were investigated by standard serology and polymerase chain reaction. HCV RNA was found in all patients with CAH and in 90.0% with cirrhosis (33% HBsAg-positive). HBV DNA sequences were found, in the HBsAg-positive subjects, in 71.4% of CAH and in 83.3% of cirrhotics; in the HBsAg-negative ones, only 10% of CAH but 77.7% of cirrhotics had demonstrable HBV DNA sequences. Consequently, 80.0% of cirrhotics had evidence of both HBV and HCV infection. Conventional serology gives partial information on the true occurrence of HBV infection in HBsAg-negative patients, while PCR defines more accurately the HBV status. When the rate of double infection is defined in this way, it correlates with the presence of cirrhosis.This work was supported by grants 40% (Progetto Virus) of MURST (Ministero dell'Università e della Ricerca Scientifica) and AIRC (Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca sul Cancro). A.G. is a recipient of a fellowship from Wellcome Italia.     

Analysis of HLA alleles in Japanese patients with cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) leads to chronic liver disease in at least 50–60% of infected people and approximately 40–50% of these patients will go on to develop cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis C (HCV-C). The pathogenic mechanisms that result in HCV-C are unknown. Sixty Japanese patients with HCV-C were examined for HLA-A, B, C and DR alleles by serologic typing and for HLA-DQB1 alleles by DNA typing using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. As the control population, 293 healthy un-related Japanese were used. The frequencies of HLA-B61, Cw3, DR4, DQB1*0401 and DQB1*0402 were increased, while those of HLA-DR9, DQB1*0301 and DQB1*0303 were decreased in the patients. The co-ordinate increase in the frequency of HLA-DR4, DQB1*0401 or 0402 and decrease in the frequency of DR9 or DQB1*0303 were suggestive of a strong linkage disequilibrium between HLA-DR4 and DQB1*0401 or 0402 and between HLA-DR9 and DQB1*0303, respectively. From the odds ratio (OR) analysis, the combinations of HLA-Cw3+DR4-DQB1*0401 or 0402, or HLA-B61+DR4-DQB1*0401 or 0402 increased the risk for developing HCV-C when compared to each HLA allele alone. This suggested an additive effect for these classes I and II HLA allele combinations in HCV-C. In contrast, HLA-DR9-DQB1*0303 and DQB1*0301 may confer resistance to this disease. These results suggest the existence of HLA-linked susceptibility genes to HCV-C.     

Incidence of extrahepatic cancers among individuals with chronic hepatitis B or C virus infection: A nationwide cohort study

This study examined the association between chronic HBV or HCV infection and the risk of extrahepatic cancers. A total of 537 103 adults aged ≥20 years without history of cancer were identified from the Korean National Health Insurance Service‐National Sample Cohort between 2003 and 2013. The difference in cancer incidence was compared between those with and without chronic HBV or HCV infection. During 3 854 130 person‐years of follow‐up (median follow‐up: 8.0 years), 19 089 participants developed cancer. After adjusting for sex, body mass index, smoking, drinking, income percentile, residential area and comorbidities, hazard ratios (HRs) for incident extrahepatic cancer were significantly higher in participants with chronic HBV infection (HR: 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.20‐1.35), HCV infection (HR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.16‐1.48) or HBV/HCV dual infection (HR: 1.41, 95% CI: 1.31‐1.72) compared to participants without HBV or HCV infection. In chronic HBV infection, the cancer risk was higher for haematologic malignancy [HR (95% CI) = 2.46 (1.92‐3.15)], gallbladder [1.55 (1.05‐2.29)], pancreas [1.52 (1.07‐2.15)], stomach [1.39 (1.22‐1.58)], lung [1.27 (1.04‐1.55)], colorectum [1.21 (1.03‐1.42)] and thyroid cancer [1.20 (1.05‐1.36)]. In chronic HCV infection, the cancer risk was higher for testis [10.34 (1.35‐79.78)], gallbladder [2.90 (1.62‐5.18)], prostate [2.51 (1.65‐3.82)] and thyroid cancer [1.46 (1.10‐1.93)]. In conclusion, chronic HBV or HCV infection was not only associated with an increased risk of liver cancer, but also associated with an increased risk of multiple extrahepatic cancers.     

Hepatitis type C virus infection in patients with type B chronic liver disease

Anti-c100-3 (Ortho) was determined in the sera of 152 patients with HBs antigen-positive chronic liver diseases to assess coinfection of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Eleven patients (7.2%) were positive for anti-c100-3. Anti-CP-9 (Okamoto) and HCV-RNA (RT-PCR) were also examined in these 11 patients. Anti-CP-9 was detected in 7 patients and HCV-RNA was detected in all 11 patients. Four of the 11 anti-c100-3-positive patients were positive for HBe antigen (HBeAg) and others were negative. In 8 of the 11 patients, HCV was suspected to be superinfected by blood transfusion. In HBeAgpositive patients, serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) was elevated in relation to active replication of HBV shown by DNA-polymerase activity. The histological findings showed chronic active hepatitis, with or without cirrhosis. On the other hand, in HBeAg-negative patients, SGPT fluctuated without evidence of active replication of HBV. Active inflammation in the liver was observed in 3 of 5 HBeAg-negative patients by liver biopsy. These findings suggest that HBV might play an important role in chronic active inflammation in HBeAg-positive patients coinfected with HCV, and that HCV might be responsible for continuous inflammation in HBeAg-negative patients coinfected with HCV.