Serological pattern 'anti-hepatitis B core alone' in HIV or hepatitis C virus-infected patients is not fully explained by hepatitis B surface antigen mutants.
We determined the frequency of hepatitis B virus (HBV) occult infection and studied S gene mutations in HIV or hepatitis C virus-co-infected patients with persistent pattern 'anti-hepatitis B core alone'. HBV DNA was particularly frequent in HIV-positive patients. Sequencing of the S gene showed that only two HIV-infected patients harboured mutants in the major hydrophilic loop; the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen detection could not be explained by diagnostic escape mutants.
Wagner
Anne A
AA
Department of Bacteriology, Teacher Hospital, CHU Dupuytren 2, Avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges Cedex, France.
Denis
François
F
Weinbreck
Pierre
P
Loustaud
Véronique
V
Autofage
François
F
Rogez
Sylvie
S
Alain
Sophie
S
D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000276:immunology*; D000328:Adult; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D019694:Hepatitis B, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009154:Mutation
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens