The hepatitis B virus (HBV) and the hepatitis C virus (HCV) are both hepatotrophic viruses. Globally, more than 350 million and 170
million individuals are estimated to be infected with HBV and HCV,respectively, although the prevalence of infection varies in
different geographic areas of the world. The worldwide prevalence of coinfection with both HBV and HCV is unknown; however, in
the Asia-Pacific region, 2-10% of patients with chronic HCV infection are reportedly hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-positive and 5-20%
of patients with chronic HBV infection are reportedly HCV antibody positive. Moreover, according to the U.S. National Health and
Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), about one-quarter of U.S.patients with chronic hepatitis C have positive HBV serological
markers; this frequency is nearly six times higher than that in populations without HCV infection.
Patients with dual HBV/HCV coinfection can be classified into several categories: those with 1) acute hepatitis with HBV/ HCV
coinfection, 2) HCV superinfection in chronic HBV infection, 3) HBV superinfection in chronic HCV infection, and 4) chronic HBV/HCV
coinfection.
Last date updated on July, 2014
