Background: Viral hepatitis is the major contributor to liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Studies indicated that the co-infection of hepatitis C and hepatitis B virus also prompts liver damage progression. Therefore, in the present study, the prevalence of HCV-HBV co-infection and the impact of HCV-HBV co-infection on the progression of liver damage was evaluated amongst the HCV-infected patients in Pakistan.
Methods: In this study 2500 HCV-positive patients were recruited from Pakistan. The presence and prevalence of HCV and HBV was confirmed through ELISA and nested PCR. To determine the liver damage due to viral infection levels of ALT, ALP, and total bilirubin were also determined. Diagnostic history of patients was thoroughly documented through serological tests and liver biopsy reports. Viral genotypes and viral loads were determined through multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and time PCR, respectively.
Results: The study outcomes showed that 12.5% of the HCV-infected patients were co-infected with HBV. Co-infection development was more common in females than in males, and females were at a higher risk of developing the infection (p-value = < 0.0001, OR = 2.437). Despite the variation among different age groups, there was no significant difference in co-infection prevalence. HCV genotype 3a was found to be most prevalent while in HBV genotype D was found to be prevalent among the patients. The HCV patients frequently developed co-infection with HBV genotype D. It was also determined that viral load for HBV genotype D was higher compared to non-D genotypes while for HCV viral load was higher in non-3a genotypes.
Conclusions: This study evaluated the prevalence of HCV and HBV co-infection among HCV-positive patients, revealing that 12.5% patients were co-infected with HBV. Co-infection was more common in females, who had a higher risk of developing it. The study also revealed that HBV genotype D was the most prevalent in co-infected patients, with no significant age-related differences in co-infection rates.
Keywords: ALT; Coinfection; Genotype; Hepatitis B virus; Hepatitis C virus; Polymerase chain reaction.
© 2025. The Author(s).