Clinical features of HBe antigen-positive cases of superinfection with hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus

The clinical features were elucidated for five HBe antigen-positive cases superinfection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV). Two of the cases had chronic hepatitis (CH) due to the superinfection, while one case developed acte hepatitis (AH) B concomtantly with CH C, and the final two cases had AH due to the superinfection. The first two cases of CH were treated with interferon (IFN). In the early period after the start of the IFN therapy, one of the cases was found to become negative for HCV-RNA, and seroconversion (SC) from HBeAg to HBeAb was achieved, After the IFN therapy was completed, this case again became positive for HCV-RNA. On the other hand, the second patient treated with IFN did not achieve SC, but a negative state for HCV-RNA was maintainted. The patient with CH C complicated by AH B did not show aggravation of the hepatitis due to the superinfection by HBV. In addition, the amount of HCV-RNA was not found to change from the most severe period of concomitant manifestation of AH B to the time after HBsAg had disappeared. The two patients with AH due to superinfection with HBV and HCV first became negative for HBsAg, and then HCVAb and HCV-RNA also became negative. These two patients showed a good course and were cured.