HEPATITIS-B VIRUS-DNA IS FREQUENTLY FOUND IN LIVER-BIOPSY SAMPLES FROM HEPATITIS-C VIRUS-INFECTED CHRONIC HEPATITIS PATIENTS

Human hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) are two majo r etiologic agents of chronic hepatitis, which is closely related to t he development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). A possible involveme nt of HBV co-infection was investigated in ongoing HCV-related liver d iseases in HCV-infected patients. A prevalence of anti-HBc in anti-HCV -positive/HBsAg-negative chronic hepatitis patients and a low copy num ber of HBV DNA were found in most of the liver biopsy samples of anti- HCV-positive/HBsAg-negative patients. The present data suggest that HB V co-infects frequently with HCV and may play an important role in the development of HCC in the anti-HCV-positive/HBsAg-negative patients w ith chronic hepatitis. (C) 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.