Characteristics of the HBsAg carriers with superimposed acute hepatitis C: comparison between those with a fulminant course and those with a non-fulminant course
| Characteristics | Fulminant (n = 9) | Non-fulminant (n = 30) |
|---|---|---|
| Age | ||
| ⩽40 y | 44 | 63 |
| >40 y | 56 | 37 |
| Sex | ||
| Male | 89 | 73 |
| Female | 11 | 27 |
| HCV genotypes | ||
| 1b | 78 | 83 |
| 1b+2a/2c or 1b+2b | 22 | 10 |
| Not classified | 0 | 7 |
| Serum titres of HCV RNA | ||
| <105 copies/ml | 78 | 73 |
| 105–107 copies/ml | 22 | 27 |
| Concurrent HGV infection | 11 | 10 |
| Concurrent HDV infection | 22 | 7 |
| Serum levels of HBV DNA | ||
| Undetectable | 44 | 50 |
| 10–100 pg/ml | 11 | 10 |
| 101–1000 pg/ml | 11 | 17 |
| >1000 pg/ml | 33 | 23 |
Results are expressed as percentages.
p>0.2 by the χ2 test with Yates’ correction for all comparisons between patients with a fulminant course and those with a non-fulminant course.
HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen; HCV, hepatitis C virus; HGV, hepatitis G virus; HDV, hepatitis D virus.