Isolated antibodies against the core antigen of hepatitis B virus in HIV-infected patients.
The aim of this study was to describe the frequency and significance of isolated antibodies against the hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antigen (HBc) in 2185 HIV-infected patients of the Aquitaine Cohort. Antibodies against HBc were found in 372 subjects (17%). Patients with isolated anti-HBc antibodies were more frequently coinfected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (58.2%) than those who were anti-HB surface (HBs) antibody positive (22.9%, P<0.001) and those who were dually reactive anti-HBs/anti-HBc antibody positive (27.3%, P<0.001). These results suggest interactions between HBV and HCV. As observed in patients not infected with HIV, the "anti-HBc-alone" serological profile could reflect essentially late immunity with undetectable anti-HBs antibodies. However, an occult HBV infection cannot be ruled out.
Neau
D
D
Federation of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Pellegrin Hospital, Place Amélie Raba-Léon, 33-076 Bordeaux Cedex, France. didier.neau@chui-bordeaux.fr
Winnock
M
M
Galpérine
T
T
Jouvencel
A C
AC
Castéra
L
L
Legrand
E
E
Tranchant
E
E
Balestre
E
E
Lacoste
D
D
Ragnaud
J M
JM
Dupon
M
M
Lafon
M E
ME
Dabis
F
F
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000276:immunology*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000032:analysis*; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000276:immunology*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens