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Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol. 23, No. 4, October-December, 2005, pp. 273-274 Correspondence Prevalence of hepatitis C and B viral markers in patients with chronic liver disease: A study from Northern India *Chakravarti A, Verma V *Corresponding author (email: Code Number: mb05084 Dear Editor, We wish to share our experience on the prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in patients with chronic liver disease (CLD) during two year study period. Both of these viruses are transmitted mainly through the parenteral route and therefore a dual infection of these viruses occurs and even persists in the same patient. Seroprevalence studies have also shown coinfection of HBV and HCV, although prevalence may vary from area to area and country to country.[1] In view of this the present study was designed to determine the prevalence of HCV and HBV infection and coinfection of HBV in HCV patients with chronic liver disease. A total of one hundred and thirty two patients with chronic liver disease, attending the out patient department (OPD) or admitted in the wards of Lok Nayak Hospital, New Delhi during the year Jan 2003 to December 2004 were studied. The study group comprised of 104 male and 28 female patients. The mean age of the patients was 16-72 years. (43.5 + 1.7 years). Five millilitre of blood sample was collected aseptically and serum was separated, aliquoted and stored at -20°C until tested. Anti -HCV, HBsAg, Anti-HBc IgM, Anti-HBc IgG were detected by using commercially available kits with known positive and negative controls In the present study, HBV infection was detected in 80 (60.6%) cases using all the three markers: HBs Ag (44 cases), anti-HBc IgM (13 cases), anti-HBc IgG (80 cases), similar findings were reported by other workers.[2] HCV infection was present in thirty-four (25.75%) patients with CLD which is in accordance with our earlier study.[3] Twenty-seven (79.41%) cases of hepatitis C patients showed coinfection with HBV (past or present infection); HBsAg was present in 38.23% (13/34), anti-HBc IgM in 5.8% (2/34) and anti-HBc IgG in 79.41% (27/34). In the previous study by Singh et al ,[4] it was reported that the prevalence of anti-HCV was higher as compared to HBV in CLD, since only two viral markers i.e., anti HBc IgM and HBsAg were studied. Anti-HBc IgG, an important viral marker for knowing the exposure to HBV in these cases, was not tested and that might be one of the reasons for getting a lower prevalence of HBV as compared to HCV. Eighteen cases of CLD in the present study were cryptogenic (negative for both HCV and HBV). Probably certain HCV variants or other hepatotropic viruses like hepatitis G virus (HGV) or transfusion transmissible virus (TTV) or SEN viruses were present. Thus, it is concluded from the present study that HBV is still one of the major causes of chronic liver disease followed by HCV in India with more than one-third (27/80) of HCV patients, coinfected with HBV. The detection of HBsAg alone does not reflect the actual outcome of HBV infection and hence both HBsAg and anti-HBc IgG can help in identifying the true picture as was indicated in another study.[5] References
Copyright 2005 - Indian Journal of Medical Microbiology |
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