Hepatitis C, hepatitis B, and their co-infections in patients with hepatic cirrhosis

The cases of viral hepatitis have been rapidly increasing in the Meerut region of Uttar Pradesh. Identifying the etiological profile among liver cirrhosis patients in tertiary care centers is crucial for understanding the associated disease burden. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections among liver cirrhosis patients in the western Uttar Pradesh region. From May 2021 to March 2022, a prospective study was conducted on 278 liver cirrhosis patients. Venous blood samples were analyzed for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV antibodies using sandwich ELISA technique and solid-phase immunochromatography. Of the 278 enrolled patients, 66 (23.7%) were found positive for viral hepatitis infection. Out of the positive cases, 74% were male and 25.8% were female, with a mean age of 41 years. Among the cirrhosis cases, 14.7% were positive for hepatitis C infection, 7.9% for hepatitis B infection, and 1.1% for HCV+HBV co-infection. The most common age group with viral infection-related cirrhosis was 41-60 years in urban areas. Hepatitis C Virus and HBV are the major causes of cirrhosis in this study region. The Western Uttar Pradesh region is a prevalent area for Hepatitis C Virus and HBV infections. Our results emphasize the common occurrence of viral infection-related cirrhosis in our region, with co-infection of Hepatitis C Virus and HBV being less common.