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Background Hepatitis B virus (HBV)/hepatitis C virus (HCV) confection has been rarely studied in nonasian series. Aim To compare the characteristics of HBV/HCV coinfected patients to those of HBV- or HCV-monoinfected patients in the ANRS CO22 HEPATHER cohort study. Patients and Methods Of the 20 936 included patients, 95 had HBV/ HCV coinfection (hepatitis B surface antigen, anti- HCV antibody and HCV RNA positive) and were matched with 375 HBV- and 380 HCV-monoinfected patients on age, gender and time since HBV or HCV diagnosis. Results F3-F4 fibrosis was more frequent in coinfected patients (58%) than in HBV- (32%, P < .0001), but similar in HCV-monoinfected patients (52%, P = .3142). Decompensated cirrhosis was more frequent in coinfected patients (11%) than in HBV- (2%, P = .0002) or HCV- (4%, P = .0275) monoinfected patients. Past excessive alcohol use was more frequent in coinfected patients (26%) than in HBV (12%, P = .0011), but similar in HCV monoinfected patients (32%, P = .2868). Coinfected patients had a higher proportion with arterial hypertension (42%) than HBV- (26%) or HCV-monoinfected patients (25%) ( P < .003). Multivariable analysis confirmed the association between F3-F4 fibrosis and HCV infection in HBV-infected patients ( OR = 3.84, 95% CI 1.99-7.43) and the association between decompensated cirrhosis and coinfection in HBV infected ( OR = 5.58, 95% CI 1.42-22.0) or HCV infected patients ( OR = 3.02, 95% CI 1.22-7.44). Conclusions HCV coinfection harmfully affects liver fibrosis in HBV patients, while decompensated cirrhosis is increased in coinfected patients compared with HBV- or HCV-monoinfected patients. HCV treatment is as safe and effective in coinfected as monoinfected patients and should be considered following the same rules as HCV monoinfected patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]