[A study of chronic hepatitis B infection superinfected with hepatitis E infection].

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:

To compare the influence of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection on the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV) by observing clinical features, the relationship between the number of HBV DNA copies in serum, the degree of hepatic function impairments and prognosis of chronic hepatitis B patients with hepatitis E superinfection.

METHODS:

One hundred and fifteen chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients and 115 CHB patients with hepatitis E (HE) superinfection were studied and compared. 74 liver tissue biopsy samples of the CHB and 51 of the CHB-HE sufferers were obtained. HBsAg, anti-HBs, HBeAg, anti-HBe, anti-HBc, anti-HBc-IgG, anti-HBc-IgM, HBV DNA and anti-HEVIgM were detected respectively by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay and polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS:

The number of HBV DNA copies in sera in the CHB-HE group and the severity of the clinical features were significantly higher than those in the CHB group. The former group had a poorer prognosis with a 49.6% occurrence rate of severe hepatitis and a 25.2% death rate while in the latter group the corresponding rates were just 4.4% and 1.7%.

CONCLUSION:

Re-infection with HEV, in those CHB patients, severely damaged their hepatic functions and increased their mortality; the older the patient and the higher the level of HBV DNA, the poorer the prognosis.

• Authors: Guo-Shun Zhang, Fu-Min Feng, Yu-Lin Li, Ju-Xiang Yuan, Hua Shang
• Journal: Zhonghua gan zang bing za zhi = Zhonghua ganzangbing zazhi = Chinese journal of hepatology (Zhonghua Gan Zang Bing Za Zhi) Vol. 14 Issue 12 Pg. 906-8 (Dec 2006) ISSN: 1007-3418 [Print] China
• PMID: 17196134 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article)

Topics

• Female
• Hepatitis B virus
• Hepatitis B, Chronic (virology)
• Hepatitis E (virology)
• Hepatitis E virus
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prognosis
• Superinfection