High Prevalence of Hepatitis C Antibody in Patients with Tuberculosis Infection

Abstract

Background and Aims: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) core protein may bind to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor The cellular effect of this interaction is still a matter of debate. Since anti-TNF therapy increased the risk of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) infection, we study the relation between HCV and TB infection. Methods: One hundred patients with culture proven TB, and 100 age-and sex-matched subjects who received health checkup were studied. All received a telephone questionnaire and had stored sera tested for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV Results: Prevalence of HBsAg (24% vs. 11%, p=0.026) and anti-HCV (24% vs. 5%, p=0.000) were higher in patients with TB than in health checkup controls. There is also a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (32% vs. 14%, p=0.004) in patients with TB than controls, but in patients with TB the prevalence of anti-HCV showed no difference between those with diabetes and those without. Forty-three patients in TB group had associated major underlying diseases, and the prevalence of anti-HCV was higher in these patients, compared to those without underlying disease (37% vs. 14%, p=0.009). After exclusion of patients with major underlying diseases, mycobacterium TB infection is the only independent factor associated with HCV infection in stepwise logistic regression. Conclusion: Anti-HCV is more prevalent in patients infected with TB.