Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Loss and Hepatocellular Carcinoma Development in Patients With Dual Hepatitis B and C Infection

Medicine (Baltimore). 2016 Mar;95(10):e2995. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000002995.

Abstract

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections are 2 major causes of chronic viral hepatitis. It is still unclear how HCV coinfection affects HBV replication and clinical outcomes in HBV/HCV coinfected patients.We conducted a longitudinal study, which enrolled 111 patients with HBV/HCV coinfection and 111 propensity score-matched controls with HBV monoinfection. Both groups had comparable baseline age, sex, fibrosis stage, levels of HBV DNA, and HBV surface antigen (HBsAg). The HCV coinfection and other host/viral factors were correlated with various outcomes, including HBsAg loss and cirrhosis/hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development.After a 10-year follow-up, we found that HCV coinfection itself was not associated with HBsAg loss. However, coinfected patients with alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level >80 U/L had a higher chance of HBsAg loss than those with ALT level ≤80 U/L [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 4.41 (1.75-11.15)] or matched controls with HBV monoinfection [hazard ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.40 (1.54-7.50)]. Besides, both HCV coinfection and higher ALT levels were associated with higher HCC risks and the HCC risks remained even after HBsAg loss in HBV/HCV con-infected patient.HCV coinfection is not associated with HBsAg loss. A higher ALT level is a major determinant of HBsAg loss in patients with HBV/HCV coinfection. Both HCV coinfection and a higher ALT level were independent risk factors of HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / etiology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Coinfection
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Forecasting*
  • Genotype
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / complications
  • Hepatitis B / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / immunology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / complications
  • Hepatitis C / immunology*
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Hepatitis C Antigens / immunology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / etiology
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • RNA, Viral / analysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Hepatitis B Surface Antigens
  • Hepatitis C Antigens
  • RNA, Viral