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World J Gastroenterol. Mar 21, 2014; 20(11): 2955-2961
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2955
Published online Mar 21, 2014. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i11.2955
Updates on the treatment and outcomes of dual chronic hepatitis C and B virus infection
Chun-Jen Liu, Pei-Jer Chen, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei 10002, Taiwan
Author contributions: Liu CJ and Chen PJ designed review; Liu CJ prepared the manuscript; Chen PJ gave critical review and approval.
Supported by Grants from the National Taiwan University; Department of Health, Executive Yuan, Taiwan; and Taiwan Liver Disease Consortium (TLC), National Research Program for Biopharmaceuticals (NRPB), Taiwan, NSC100-2325-B-002-052
Correspondence to: Pei-Jer Chen, MD, PhD, Distinguished Professor, Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, and Hepatitis Research Center, National Taiwan University College of Medicine and National Taiwan University Hospital, Chang-Te Street, Taipei 10002, Taiwan. peijerchen@ntu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-23123456 Fax: +886-2-23825962
Received: September 25, 2013
Revised: December 26, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Revised: December 26, 2013
Accepted: January 14, 2014
Published online: March 21, 2014
Core Tip
Core tip: Patients with dual hepatitis C virus (HCV)/hepatitis B virus (HBV) infections have a higher risk of liver disease progression compared with patients with HBV or HCV monoinfections. The combination peginterferon alpha/ribavirin treatment for dual hepatitis patients with HCV dominance appears to be just as effective in the clearance of HCV RNA and safe as it is in patients with HCV monoinfections. The durability of HCV response was 97%. Furthermore, approximately 30% of dually infected patients lost hepatitis B surface antigen within 5 years after the start of peginterferon-based therapy. A population-based study revealed the benefits of combination therapy in the improvement of long-term outcomes in dually infected patients.