만성간염 환자의 혈청에서 중합효소연쇄반응을 이용한 HBV DNA 및 HCV RNA 검출소견 = Detection of HBV DNA and HCV RNA Using Polymerase Chain Reaction in the Sera of Patients with Chronic Hepatitis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

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다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objectives: It is well-known that chronic hepatitis can be caused by hepatitis viral infection, drugs and toxins, inborn errors of metabolism, and autoimmume disease. Hepatitis B (with or without superimposed hepatitis D) and hepatitis C viral infections are known as the common causes of chronic viral hepatitis. Recently there have been several reports that chronic hepatitis and chronic liver disease can be caused by the superinfection or co-infection of HBV and HCV. We detected HBV DNA and HCV RNA in patients with chronic hepatitis using polymerase chain reaction and compared polymerase chain reaction with enzyme immunoassay in evaluating the presence of a superinfection or co-infection of HBV and HCV. Methods : Using sera from 61patients with histologically proven chronic hepatitis (chronic active hepatitis' 51cases, chronic persistent hepatitis: 10cases), we checked the HBV DNA and HCV RNA using polymerase chain reaction. We also checked the HBV and HCV markers using enzyme immunoassay. Results: 1) Only HBV DNA could be detected in 37patients (60.7%). HBV DNA and HCV RNA were detected in 11patients (18%). Only HCV RNA was dectected in 4patients (6.6%). Neither HBV DNA nor HCV RNA was found in 9patients (14.8%). 2) HBV DNA and HCV RNA were detected in 11patients (18%) whereas HBsAg or anti-HBe and anti-HCV were seropositive in 4patients (6.5%). 3) The positive rates of HBsAg and HBV DNA were 83.6% and 78.7%, respectively, and the positive rates of HBV DNA in HBsAg-positive cases and in HBeAg-positive cases were 90.2% and 93.0%, respectively. 4) The positive rates of anti-HCV and HCV RNA were 11.5% and 24.6%, respectively, and the positive rates of HCV RNA in anti-HCV positive cases and in anti-HCV negative eases were 85.7% and 14.8%, respectively. Conclusion: It has been suggested that hepatitis B viral infection is the most common cause of chronic hepatitis in Korea, and that hepatitis C virus might also play an etiological role. In this study, we found that 18% of chronic hepatitis patients were superinfected or co-infected with HHV and HCV, and that polymerase chain reaction was more sensitive than enzyme immunoassay to detect HBV and HCV infection when superinfection or Qo-infection was suspected.