ABSTRACT

Background: The frequency of hepatitis C virus infection along with tuberculosis has not been widely investigated and very low statistics on rates of hepatitis C virus co-infection in tuberculosis patients. Hepatotoxicity is the major side effect of anti-tuberculosis therapy hepatitis HCVliver disease elevates the chances of hepatotoxicity up-to five folds.

Aim: To see the frequency of Hepatitis Cvirus infection amongst people with diagnosed Tuberculosis using gene X-pert technique. To evaluate the factors associated with HCVinfection in patients with MTBtuberculosis and to determine sensitivity and specificity of the tests.

Study design: Comparative analytical study.

Place and duration of study: Pathology Department, Civil Hospital Mirpur Khas Sindh from 1stJanuary 2017 to 31st December 2018.

Methodology: Three hundred and thirteen patients of tuberculosis diagnosed by Genexpert included while testing hepatitis C virus using immunochromotography rapid test technique, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay method and polymerase chain reaction test for confirmation.

Results:Higher frequency of tuberculosis infection in males 57.8%, 42.5% between 20-39 years and 22% of hepatitis C virus infection in tuberculosis patients.Sensitivity of rapid test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 79% and 96% respectively while the specificity of rapid test and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was 91% and 99% respectively.

Conclusion: The high frequency of hepatitis C virus co-infection was found among tuberculosis cases in Mirpur Khas Division Sindh. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method is more accurate, reliable as compared to rapid immunochromatographytest for hepatitis C virus and polymerase chain reaction is still gold standard.

Keywords: TB, Hepatitis C virus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis,, PCR, Genexpert, Rapid test