Frequency and clinical presentations of hepatitis B and C virus co-infection in tertiary care hospital

ABSTRACT

To study the frequency and clinical presentations of hepatitis B and C virus co-infection in a tertiary care hospital. This descriptive study was conducted at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar, Pakistan from January 2011 to January 2012. A total of 52 patients with positive HBsAg and anti HCV antibodies were included in the study. Clinical, demographic, laboratory data and results of the liver and abdominal ultrasound were recorded. Furthermore, both qualitative and quantitative PCR were performed. Data was analyzed using SPSS v 16. Ppatients, 32 [61.5%] were male and 20 [38.5%] were female. Mean age was 40 +/- 10.125 year. The percentage of HCV infection was 24%, while the percentage of HBV infection was 38.8 5%. Amongst the PCR positive patients, 23/47 [44.2%] had dominant HBV infection whilst, 24/27 [46.2%] patients had dominant HCV infection. The common modes of transmission were surgery, history of dental procedure and blood transfusion. The effect of HBV/HCV co-infection and development of chronic liver disease [CLD] was significant [p<0.05]. Chronic hepatitis B and C Co-infection is a common clinical problem and is associated with more severe CLD