Viral interaction and clinical implications of coinfection of hepatitis C virus with other hepatitis viruses

Eur J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2006 Dec;18(12):1311-9. doi: 10.1097/01.meg.0000243881.09820.09.

Abstract

Coinfection with other hepatitis viruses modifies the viral profile in serum and leads to more liver damage and more rapid progression during the course of hepatitis C virus infection. The viral interference is not only carried out by virus-virus or by virus-cell interactions but also by an enhanced immune response. A superinfecting viral infection does not crossactivate protective immune responses to the pre-existing virus albeit the latter can become undetectable. The induced cytokine stimulation might enhance the hepatic inflammation. Moreover, hepatitis B virus coinfection increases the risk of development of hepatocellular carcinoma in hepatitis C virus patients through common necro-inflammatory pathways or by direct oncogenic activity of hepatitis B virus. Viral interaction also complicates the management of the coinfection because hepatitis C virus impairs the humoral response to hepatitis A virus and hepatitis B virus vaccines, and because pharmacological suppression of hepatitis C virus endangers dually infected patients with reactivation of coinfected hepatitis B virus. Optimized strategies and follow-up are thus necessary in the treatment of infection with multiple viruses. It seems thus necessary to look for markers of hepatitis B virus and/or hepatitis D virus infection in chronic hepatitis patients positive for hepatitis C virus antibodies but negative for hepatitis C virus RNA, and equally well to search for hepatitis C virus RNA in HBsAg-negative/anti-HBc-positive patients with a low level of serum hepatitis B virus DNA.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cytokines / biosynthesis
  • Genes, Viral
  • Hepacivirus / genetics
  • Hepacivirus / physiology
  • Hepatitis B / complications
  • Hepatitis B / immunology
  • Hepatitis B / virology
  • Hepatitis B virus / genetics
  • Hepatitis B virus / physiology
  • Hepatitis C / complications*
  • Hepatitis C / immunology
  • Hepatitis C / virology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / complications
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / immunology
  • Hepatitis, Viral, Human / virology
  • Humans
  • Mutation

Substances

  • Cytokines