How Dual Hepatitis B, C Infection Differs from Single Infection

How Dual Hepatitis B, C Infection Differs from Single Infection
Feb 01, 2017 | Dava Stewart
The bodies of patients infected with both hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) respond to the diseases differently than those infected with only one of the two. A recent study conducted by Fei Chen, PhD, of the University of South China, and colleagues compared the virological and immunological features of patients with dual and single infections and found significant differences.

In some areas, among particularly high-risk populations, HBV/HCV dual infection is relatively common. The researchers noted that there is increasing evidence that such dual infections are more difficult to treat, and that there is a higher likelihood of disease advancement—from chronic hepatitis to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Previous studies seemed to indicate that dual infection has different virologic and immunologic profiles than single infections, but those studies have yielded inconsistent results.

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