This thesis examines the effect of hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) to define burden of disease at individual and population levels. A systematic review of HCV HRQOL studies was undertaken with translation of Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey data into community-weighted health state utilities using three different methods. Derived estimates of health utilities were 0.87 for HCV treatment-induced sustained virological response (SVR); 0.81 for pre-cirrhosis; 0.76 for compensated cirrhosis; 0.69 for decompensated cirrhosis; 0.67 for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); and 0.77 for liver transplant. The HCV health state utilities varied considerably from expert estimates, with relatively lower estimates for early liver disease and higher estimates for advanced liver disease, but were comparable to direct patient-elicited utilities. A study utilising data from population-based health surveys incorporating HCV screening among prisoners at Australian correctional centres in 1996 and 2001 showed no measurable effect of HCV on HRQOL, including that attributable to HCV viraemia. Compared to uninfected Australian norms, prisoners had lower HRQOL irrespective of HCV status. Several non-HCV factors such as age, co-morbidity, severity of depressive symptoms, and medical care utilization influenced HRQOL. A prospective study of health outcomes among HCV monoinfected and HIV/HCV coinfected individuals conducted at Sydney tertiary level hepatitis clinics between 2003 and 2005 found similar cognitive function, mood, and HRQOL patterns in these two HCV groups in the context of pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) alfa-2a and ribavirin therapy. The HCV groups had similar levels of pre-treatment HRQOL impairment, further on-treatment deterioration, and posttreatment improvements. SVR was associated with significant HRQOL improvements, but mental HRQOL improvement was also seen in individuals not achieving an SVR. The impact of HCV treatment uptake on HCV-related burden of disease at a population level in Australia was examined using a mathematical model. The model estimated that in 2004, there were ~181,500 cases of chronic HCV infection, 7,020 with HCV-related cirrhosis, and annual incidence of 238 cases of HCV-related liver failure and 70 cases of HCV-related HCC. Compared to no treatment, current treatment levels (~1% of HCV-infected individuals per annum) would reduce projected HCV-related cirrhosis and advanced liver disease numbers by ~30% at 2020 and a gain of ~122,200 Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALYs). Even with a five-fold increase from current treatment levels, advanced liver disease numbers will continue to increase through 2020 but will be reduced by ~55% and a gain of ~483,200 QALYs.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os vírus das hepatites B (VHB) e C (VHC) são os principais causadores de hepatopatia crônica em todo mundo. Ambos compartilham vias semelhantes de transmissão. Em pacientes portadores crônicos de VHC com sorologia compatível com infecção pregressa pelo VHB (anti-HBcAg[+] e HBsAg [-]), o VHB DNA residual tem sido detectado por técnicas de biologia molecular altamente sensíveis no soro, em células linfomononucleares de sangue periférico e em hepatócitos (como cccDNA), de forma que o anti-HBcAg tem sido associado a pior prognóstico, tanto histológico quanto terapêutico. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a associação entre infecção pregressa pelo VHB nos portadores crônicos do VHC e o dano histológico hepático, além das características epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais destes pacientes em região de baixa prevalência para o VHB. MÉTODOS: A prevalência do anti-HBcAg foi avaliada em 574 pacientes portadores crônicos de VHC atendidos durante o ano de 2006 no ambulatório de Hepatites Virais do DMIP-HC FMUSP. Deste grupo, foram selecionados 215 pacientes (98 de 112 com anti-HBcAg[+] e 117 de 462 monoinfectados pelo VHC) para análise comparativa. Ainda, 145 indivíduos foram submetidos à análise estatística multivariada, por metodologia de Regressão Logística sequencial, para identificação de possíveis preditores de fibrose avançada. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 98 pacientes com marcadores sorológicos de infecção pregressa pelo VHB. Quarenta e seis indivíduos (47%) possuíam o anti-HBcAg de forma isolada. O principal fator de risco relacionado à infecção viral foi hemotransfusão (31,6%). Contudo, a freqüência de UDI foi maior no grupo com infecção pregressa pelo VHB, em relação aos 117 indivíduos monoinfectados pelo VHC (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quanto ao estadiamento (p=0,40) ou à graduação necroinflamatória histológica (APP, p=0,70) entre esses dois grupos. O tempo de infecção e a taxa de progressão de fibrose também foram semelhantes (p=0,99 e p=0,61, respectivamente). A presença do anti-HBcAg não foi considerada preditora de fibrose hepática avançada (p=0,11), porém identificamos como variáveis independentes o tabagismo acentuado (OR 4,40; IC95%: 1,30-14,87), aumento da ALT (OR 1,01; IC95%: 1,00-1,03), de gamagt (OR 1,01; IC95%: 1,00-1,01) e leucopenia (OR 7,75; IC95%: 2,13-28,23). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de infecção pregressa pelo VHB em portadores de infecção crônica pelo VHC foi de 20%, sendo este valor compatível com outros estudos realizados em regiões de endemicidade semelhante. A freqüência do marcador anti-HBcAg isolado foi alta neste grupo, refletindo uma possível supressão da imunidade humoral contra o VHB frente a resposta dirigida ao VHC. A infecção pregressa pelo VHB não parece acentuar ou acelerar o dano histológico hepático no nosso meio. / INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus are the main causers of chronic hepatic disease worldwide. Both viruses share similar transmission routes. In chronic HCV infected patients with serological markers of resolved HBV infection (anti-HBcAg [+] and HBsAg [-]), residual HBV-DNA has been detected through highly sensible techniques in serum, PBMC and hepatocytes (as cccDNA). In fact, anti-HBcAg has been associated with worse prognoses, severe histological liver damage and less sustained virological response to HCV treatment. OBJECTIVE: Assess the relationship between previous HBV infection (anti-HBcAg [+]; HBsAg [-]) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and histological damage, considering epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of this group in a region of low prevalence for HBV. METHODS: Anti-HBcAg prevalence was evaluated in 574 patients seen during a period of one year in a tertiary center (University of Sao Paulo General Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Of this group, 215 subjects addressed selection criteria and have been selected for evaluation (98 of 112 carriers of anti-HBcAg and 117 of 462 infected only by HCV). 145 individuals have undergone analysis for identification of predictors of advanced fibrosis through univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Nineteen-eight subjects with serological markers of previous HBV infection were evaluated. Forty-six (47%) patients had anti-HBcAg in isolated form. The main risk factor for infection was blood transfusion (31,6%). However, the IDU frequency was greater in this group (p<0.05). There was no difference regarding histological staging (fibrosis ranging from 0 to 4, p=0.40) or grading (portal inflammation, p=0.70) compared with subjects infected only by HCV with no markers of HBV infection. The rate of fibrosis progression (in units per year) and the infection length was similar in these two groups (p=0,61 and p=0,99, respectively). Anti-HBcAg was not considered a predictor for advanced fibrosis (p=0.11). However, we identified tobacco smoking (OR 4.40; CI 95%: 1.30-14.87), increased ALT (OR 1.01; CI 95%: 1.00-1.03), increased -gt (OR 1.01; CI 95%: 1.00-1.01) and leucopenia (OR 7.75; CI 95%: 2.13-28.23) as independent variables. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of resolved HBV infection in subjects with chronic hepatitis C was 20%. This result was equivalent to other studies carried out in regions of similar endemicity. The frequency of the isolated anti-HBcAg was higher in this group, reflecting a possible suppression of the humoral immunity against HBV caused by an active immune response directed to HCV. Former and resolved HBV infection does not seem to increase or accelerate histological damage in our geographical area.

INTRODUÇÃO: Os vírus das hepatites B (VHB) e C (VHC) são os principais causadores de hepatopatia crônica em todo mundo. Ambos compartilham vias semelhantes de transmissão. Em pacientes portadores crônicos de VHC com sorologia compatível com infecção pregressa pelo VHB (anti-HBcAg[+] e HBsAg [-]), o VHB DNA residual tem sido detectado por técnicas de biologia molecular altamente sensíveis no soro, em células linfomononucleares de sangue periférico e em hepatócitos (como cccDNA), de forma que o anti-HBcAg tem sido associado a pior prognóstico, tanto histológico quanto terapêutico. OBJETIVOS: Analisar a associação entre infecção pregressa pelo VHB nos portadores crônicos do VHC e o dano histológico hepático, além das características epidemiológicas, clínicas e laboratoriais destes pacientes em região de baixa prevalência para o VHB. MÉTODOS: A prevalência do anti-HBcAg foi avaliada em 574 pacientes portadores crônicos de VHC atendidos durante o ano de 2006 no ambulatório de Hepatites Virais do DMIP-HC FMUSP. Deste grupo, foram selecionados 215 pacientes (98 de 112 com anti-HBcAg[+] e 117 de 462 monoinfectados pelo VHC) para análise comparativa. Ainda, 145 indivíduos foram submetidos à análise estatística multivariada, por metodologia de Regressão Logística sequencial, para identificação de possíveis preditores de fibrose avançada. RESULTADOS: Foram avaliados 98 pacientes com marcadores sorológicos de infecção pregressa pelo VHB. Quarenta e seis indivíduos (47%) possuíam o anti-HBcAg de forma isolada. O principal fator de risco relacionado à infecção viral foi hemotransfusão (31,6%). Contudo, a freqüência de UDI foi maior no grupo com infecção pregressa pelo VHB, em relação aos 117 indivíduos monoinfectados pelo VHC (p<0,05). Não houve diferença estatisticamente significativa quanto ao estadiamento (p=0,40) ou à graduação necroinflamatória histológica (APP, p=0,70) entre esses dois grupos. O tempo de infecção e a taxa de progressão de fibrose também foram semelhantes (p=0,99 e p=0,61, respectivamente). A presença do anti-HBcAg não foi considerada preditora de fibrose hepática avançada (p=0,11), porém identificamos como variáveis independentes o tabagismo acentuado (OR 4,40; IC95%: 1,30-14,87), aumento da ALT (OR 1,01; IC95%: 1,00-1,03), de gamagt (OR 1,01; IC95%: 1,00-1,01) e leucopenia (OR 7,75; IC95%: 2,13-28,23). CONCLUSÃO: A prevalência de infecção pregressa pelo VHB em portadores de infecção crônica pelo VHC foi de 20%, sendo este valor compatível com outros estudos realizados em regiões de endemicidade semelhante. A freqüência do marcador anti-HBcAg isolado foi alta neste grupo, refletindo uma possível supressão da imunidade humoral contra o VHB frente a resposta dirigida ao VHC. A infecção pregressa pelo VHB não parece acentuar ou acelerar o dano histológico hepático no nosso meio. / INTRODUCTION: Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) virus are the main causers of chronic hepatic disease worldwide. Both viruses share similar transmission routes. In chronic HCV infected patients with serological markers of resolved HBV infection (anti-HBcAg [+] and HBsAg [-]), residual HBV-DNA has been detected through highly sensible techniques in serum, PBMC and hepatocytes (as cccDNA). In fact, anti-HBcAg has been associated with worse prognoses, severe histological liver damage and less sustained virological response to HCV treatment. OBJECTIVE: Assess the relationship between previous HBV infection (anti-HBcAg [+]; HBsAg [-]) in patients with chronic hepatitis C (HCV) and histological damage, considering epidemiological, clinical and laboratorial characteristics of this group in a region of low prevalence for HBV. METHODS: Anti-HBcAg prevalence was evaluated in 574 patients seen during a period of one year in a tertiary center (University of Sao Paulo General Hospital, Sao Paulo, Brazil). Of this group, 215 subjects addressed selection criteria and have been selected for evaluation (98 of 112 carriers of anti-HBcAg and 117 of 462 infected only by HCV). 145 individuals have undergone analysis for identification of predictors of advanced fibrosis through univariate and multivariate stepwise logistic regression. RESULTS: Nineteen-eight subjects with serological markers of previous HBV infection were evaluated. Forty-six (47%) patients had anti-HBcAg in isolated form. The main risk factor for infection was blood transfusion (31,6%). However, the IDU frequency was greater in this group (p<0.05). There was no difference regarding histological staging (fibrosis ranging from 0 to 4, p=0.40) or grading (portal inflammation, p=0.70) compared with subjects infected only by HCV with no markers of HBV infection. The rate of fibrosis progression (in units per year) and the infection length was similar in these two groups (p=0,61 and p=0,99, respectively). Anti-HBcAg was not considered a predictor for advanced fibrosis (p=0.11). However, we identified tobacco smoking (OR 4.40; CI 95%: 1.30-14.87), increased ALT (OR 1.01; CI 95%: 1.00-1.03), increased -gt (OR 1.01; CI 95%: 1.00-1.01) and leucopenia (OR 7.75; CI 95%: 2.13-28.23) as independent variables. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of resolved HBV infection in subjects with chronic hepatitis C was 20%. This result was equivalent to other studies carried out in regions of similar endemicity. The frequency of the isolated anti-HBcAg was higher in this group, reflecting a possible suppression of the humoral immunity against HBV caused by an active immune response directed to HCV. Former and resolved HBV infection does not seem to increase or accelerate histological damage in our geographical area.