Anwaar A Khan, Khalil ur Rehman, Zulfiqar Haider, Farzana Shafqat.
Seromarkers of Hepatitis B and C in patients with Cirrhosis.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Nov ;12(2):105-7.

Objective: To assess the role of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) in pathogenesis of liver cirrhosis. Design: It was a prospective study. Place and Duration of Study: This study was done at two centres, Shaikh Zayed Hospital, Lahore and Jinnah Hospital, over a period of six months from June to December, 1997. Subjects and Methods: Ninty-four patients with liver cirrhosis were evaluated for seromarkers of hepatitis B and C virus at two teaching hospitals in Lahore. Viral markers studied were anti-HCV, HBsAg, anti-HBcIgG, anti-HBs, and HBeAg. Anti-HDV was done in HBsAg positive cases. Results: Twenty-two out of 94 (23%) patients were positive and 72 (77%) negative for HBsAg. Anti-HBcIgG was positive in 54 and anti-HBs in 51 of HBsAg negative patients. HBeAg was present in 6 and anti-HDV in 4 of HBsAg positive patients. Anti-HCV was positive in 64 (68%) and no major seromarkers for HBV or HCV were seen in 16 patients. Conclusion: It was evident from seromarkers that exposure to hepatitis B and C had occurred but which one was responsible for cirrhosis, was hard to determine. Inasmuch as vaccine against hepatitis B virus is available, mass vaccination in the population may be a consideration to prevent cirrhosis due to hepatitis B virus.

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