Significance of screening antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen among chronic hepatitis C patients before antiviral therapy

Fathallah, Mohamed; Moustafa, Amany; Aboelmagd, Mohamed; Elkhodary, Shyma; Elhamouly, Mohammed

doi:10.21608/aeji.2018.23077

	Significance of screening antibodies to hepatitis B core antigen among chronic hepatitis C patients before antiviral therapy
Afro-Egyptian Journal of Infectious and Endemic Diseases
Article 7, Volume 8, Issue 4, December 2018, Page 202-208 PDF (368.72 K)
Document Type: Original Article
DOI: 10.21608/aeji.2018.23077
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Authors
Mohamed Fathallah ¹; Amany Moustafa²; Mohamed Aboelmagd¹; Shyma Elkhodary¹; Mohammed Elhamouly¹
¹Department of Endemic and Infectious Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
²Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
Abstract
Background and study aim: Anti-hepatitis B core (anti-HBc) sero-positivity in general population in Egypt is reported to be 10-13%. This study was performed to determine the prevalence of anti-HBc among chronic hepatitis C patients before antiviral therapy. Patients and Methods: A total of 178 consenting patients with chronic HCV infection eligible for treatment with DAAs according to program of National Committee for Control of Hepatitis Infection in Portsaid, Egypt from April to October 2017. All of the patients were screened for anti-HBs and anti-HBc. Anti-HBc–positive patients were assayed for HBV DNA. Results: Out of 178 chronic hepatitis C patients, Eighty four patients (47.2%) were treated with triple therapy (Sofosbuvir/ Daclatasvir/Ribavirin) and ninety four patients (52.8%) with dual therapy (Sofosbuvir/Daclatasvir). A65 patients (36.5%) werereactive for anti-HBc. Of 84 patients, 34 (40.5%) who treated with triple therapy were reactive for anti-HBc. Of 94 patients, 31 (33%) who treated with dual therapy were reactive for it. All patients were negative for anti-HBs and anti-HBc–positive patients were no detected HBV DNA at baseline and 12 weeks after DAAs. Conclusion: Our results suggest including anti-HBc as an additional screening test for chronic hepatitis C patient in Egypt who are eligible for DAAs to reduce the risk of HBV reactivation and fulminant hepatitis after DAAs.
Keywords
Sofosbuvir; Daclatasvir; Hepatitis B core antigen; Antibody


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