The objectives of the study were to evaluate the prevalence, the incidence and the clinical significance of antibodies to hepatitis C virus in HBsAg chronic carriers. The evaluation of Stored sera was combined with the follow-up of a cohort os cases observed in a referral-based university hospital. A total of 183 HBsAg asymptomatic chronic carriers were identified during routine screening and followed for a mean period of 3.8 years. Stored sera and sera obtained during follow-up were tested for anti-HCV using ELISA. Second generation RIBA (Ortho) was used as a possible confirmatory test. Demographic data and risk factors were assessed using a standard questionnaire. The prevalence of HCV infection in HBsAg chronic carriers was 2.7% (95% CI: 1.2%-6.3%), higher in male than female (3.1% vs 1.8%, p = 0.52) and also higher than the one found in voluntary blood donors from the same region. Only 3 out of 5 ELISA-positive cases were RIBA-positive. Patients positive for both types of virus more frequently admitted drug abuse. The presence of anti-HCV was not significantly related to the histologic severity. During follow-up no new cases of infection were found.
Conclusions: The prevalence of HCV infection in asymptomatic chronic carriers is higher than in blood donors but lower than previously reported for other populations of chronic hepatitis B cases. HCV infection was not found responsible for the frequency or the type of lesions observed im these HBsAg chronic carriers.