Intrahepatic expression of hepatitis B virus antigens: Effect of hepatitisC virus infection

Coinfection with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV, HCV) is not uncommon, but the expression of HBV antigens in the Liver of patients with concomitant HC V infection has not been investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the eff ects of concomitant HCV infection on the intrahepatic expression of HBV ant igens in chronic hepatitis. HBV surface and core antigens (HBsAg, HBcAg) we re immunohistochemically evaluated and semiquantitatively scored in liver b iopsy specimens from patients with chronic hepatitis, comprising 17 cases w ith dual HBV/HCV infection and 25 with HBV infection alone. The prevalence of HBV Ag expression proved significantly lower in the group with dual infe ction. In the presence of active HBV replication (HBV DNA-positive serum) t he prevalence of HBsAg and HBcAg immunoreaction was similar in the two grou ps, though a significantly lower percentage of cells expressed HBcAg in the group of coinfected patients. HBV Ag was not detected at all among HBV DNA -negative / HCV RNA-positive cases. In conclusion, these observations sugge st that HCV might influence HBV antigen expression in the liver and that ei ther partial or complete suppression might occur.