title: 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.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bacteriology, Teacher Hospital, CHU Dupuytren 2, Avenue Martin Luther King, 87042 Limoges Cedex, France.
authors.forename: Anne A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Denis
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weinbreck
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Loustaud
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Autofage
authors.forename: Sylvie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rogez
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alain
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens