Patients with SARS-CoV-2 and HBV co-infection are at risk of greater liver injury

To date, it remains unclear if severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) co-infection exacerbates liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. In this study, we present a retrospective study of 133 hospitalized confirmed mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases, including 116 patients with COVID-19 with negative serum hepatitis B antigen and 17 HBV inactive carriers with COVID-19. We found that there were no significant differences for the discharge rate or duration of hospitalization between the two groups. However, inactive HBV carriers with SARS-CoV-2 co-infection are at a higher risk of abnormal liver function tests. The enhanced liver injury induced by SARS-CoV-2 and HBV co-infection was identified as the hepatocyte type rather than the cholangiocyte type. Moreover, the inflammatory response, including abnormal lactate dehydrogenase, D-dimer and interleukin-6 production, may contribute to this injury following SARS-CoV-2 co-infection. Collectively, SARS-CoV-2 and HBV co-infection exacerbates liver function of the patients with COVID-19.

Genetic polymorphisms of interleukin-6 influence the development of hepatitis B virus-related liver cirrhosis in the Han Chinese population

BACKGROUND

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays an important role in chronic inflammation. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effects of IL-6 polymorphisms on predicting the progression of hepatitis B virus (HBV)-r elated liver cirrhosis.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyse IL-6 polymorphisms and serum levels of IL-6 in HBV-infected patients at different clinical phases and in healthy controls. IL-6 polymorphisms were detected by the TaqMan PCR method, and plasma IL-6 levels were assessed by ELISA.

RESULTS

Our analysis included 182 chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients, 190 HBV-infected liver cirrhosis cases, 125 inactive HBsAg carriers, and 246 healthy controls. Seven SNPs in IL-6 including rs10499563, rs17147230, rs1800796, rs2069837, rs1524107, rs2066992, and rs2069852 were analysed. In a haplotype analysis between HBV-infected liver cirrhosis cases and CHB patients, inactive HBV carriers or healthy controls, haplotype CT in block 1 and haplotype GGCGG in block 2 were associated with liver cirrhosis (P <0.05). Moreover, the genotype or allele frequencies were significantly different in IL-6 rs10499563 and rs2069837 when HBV-infected liver cirrhosis patients were compared with CHB patients, inactive HBV carriers or healthy controls. A further study found that compared with that in the healthy controls, inactive HBV carriers or CHB patients, plasma IL-6 was elevated in HBV-infected liver cirrhosis patients.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the IL-6 rs10499563 and rs2069837 polymorphisms are associated with incidence of liver cirrhosis may through their effects on IL-6 expression and these two single nucleotide polymorphisms can be used as potential prognostic markers of HBV-related liver cirrhosis.