Concomitant findings of anti-HBc as a sole marker for hepatitis B virus infection and elevated serum transaminases are associated with a high prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection

From two hundred sixty five patients with liver disease and elevated serum transaminases who were admitted or referred to Atmajaya academic hospital in Jakarta, 37 patients were found to be anti-HBc positive as a sole marker of HBV infection. Nineteen out of these 37 patients were also anti-HCV positive, HCV-RNA was detected in 16 patients. From 1656 individuals with normal serum transaminases who underwent serological examination and consisted of 489 subjects from population based study in Kalianyar (an urban area in Jakarta), 258 students of Atmajaya Medical School, 541 women and 162 children from maternity-child clinic and 206 patients admitted to hospital without evidence of liver disease, anti-HBc as a sole marker for HBV infection was found in 213. However, HCV-RNA was detected only in 2 subjects. We conclude that concomitant findings of anti-HBc as a sole marker for HBV infection and elevated ALT are associated with a relative high prevalence of HCV infection. In a group of individuals without evidence of liver disease, HCV infection was uncommon, even when anti-HBc is present as a sole marker of HBV infection.