ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infects approximately 120 million people worldwide and it is estimated that 15% of HCV infected individuals eliminate the virus spontaneously, 25% develop a mild form of disease and that 60% develop the chronic progressive form. Fibrosis is the principle complication of chronic hepatitis C and it is estimated that 20% of patients develop cirrhosis over 10-30 years.
The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of hepatitis C seropositive in cohort of 1580 Egyptian from 11 rural areas at Sohag Governorate, and to investigate the influence of concomitant schistosoma hematobium infection on hepatitis C seropositive patients with respect to the natural course of the disease and the histopathological findings on liver biopsy.
Methods: 1000 HCV seropositive patients were divided into two (801 cases) HCV group and (199 cases) concomitant HCV and schistosoma hematobium infection group and they were investigated for their effect on liver function and biopsy, as regard liver fibrosis.
Results: Liver fibrosis was found to develop earlier and more advanced in patients with concomitant infection than in HCV only patients (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: HCV sero-positivity is frequently associated with schistosomiasis hematibium in Upper Egypt. Patients with concomitant HCV and schistosomiasis have more advanced liver fibrosis but less sever alteration of liver functions