Genotype Distributions and Hepatitis B Coinfection in Hepatitis C Patients at a University Hospital

Abstract

Objectives: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major cause of chronic liver disease. Comorbidity with the hepatitis B virus (HBV) leads to progressive fibrosis and severe liver disease. Our study aimed to determine HBV coinfection rates in HCV patients. Materials and Methods: This single-center study retrospectively examined anti-HCV-positive patients monitored at our center in January 2015-June 2020. The patients' hepatitis B surface antigen, anti-hepatitis B core antigen immunoglobulin (anti-HBc IgG), anti-HBs, anti-delta, anti-human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), HCVRNA, HBV-DNA and HDV-RNA test results were analyzed. Results: Among 602 anti-HCV-positive patients, 462 (76.7%) with positive HCV-RNA values were included. The median age was 55.27 (18-88), while 279 (60.4%) were female. The most prevalent genotype was 1b 60.7%. HCV/HBV coinfection was found as 1.8%. HBV exposure was in 27.7%, isolated anti HBc IgG positivity was in 4.4%, and 21% were naturally immune to HBV. HBV-DNA was <2000 IU/mL in all patients. Conclusion: Due to their similar route of contagion, HCV patients need to be screened for HBV serology. Patients with negative HBV serology should be vaccinated.