There is limited information on the histological profile of chronic liver disease due to dual infection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus infection. Few studies have indicated higher histological activity with dual infection as compared to HBV and HCV infection present alone. This study aims at reviewing the histological profile of liver biopsies in the three groups. Liver biopsies of 25 patients serologically diagnosed as HBV and HCV dual infection (Group I), were compared with 25 age and sex matched cases of HBV infection (Group II) and HCV infection (Group III).
Results: Mean Histological Activity Score in group I was 8, which was higher than the scores of group II (6.2) and group III (7.3). The mean stage of fibrosis was also slightly higher in group I (2.3) as compared to group II (1.9) and group III (1.7). However, when stage 3 and 4 fibrosis (extensive fibrosis) were combined and compared with the number of patients with stage 1 and 2 fibrosis in each group, we found Group I (dual infection) had larger number of patients with extensive fibrosis (48%) than in Groups II and III (20% and 36% respectively). In addition, there was no significant difference in presence of features like fatty change, bile duct injury and lymphoid aggregates in the three groups.
Conclusion: Patients with dual HBV and HCV infection are more likely to have an advanced stage of disease than those with a single infection, however there is no significant difference in histologic activity or any other histological parameter between these groups.