Prevalence of occult HBV infection among subjects with normal serum ALT levels in Korea.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of occult HBV infection among subjects with normal serum ALT levels in South Korea.


METHODS
A total of 195 serum samples were collected from subjects without a past history of alcohol abuse and with normal serum ALT levels. They were negative for HBsAg, anti-HCV, and anti-HIV. HBV-DNA was detected from sera by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using specific primers of the surface antigen region of the HBV genome. We performed a quantitation assay using hybrid capture II test to determine the levels of serum HBV-DNA.


RESULTS
HBV-DNA was detected in 31 of 195 subjects (16%). Prevalence of occult hepatitis B was significantly higher in the male subjects (23%) than in the female (8%), (P<0.05). We were able to detect HBV-DNA in 15% (7/47) even in which sera were all negative for anti-HBs and IgG anti-HBc. Serum HBV-DNA levels were as high as 10(5) copies/mL in 18 of 31 subjects (58%) with occult HBV infection.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of occult HBV infection and their HBV-DNA levels were significantly high among subjects with normal serum ALT levels in South Korea. Thus, more meticulous attention should be given to prevent HBV transmission by blood transfusion or organ transplantation in endemic areas, and further studies on clinical implication and mechanism of occult HBV infection are required.
Laboratory of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Seong Man
SM
Kim
Ki Sung
KS
Lee
Chi Jun
CJ
Park
Ja Young
JY
Lee
Kyung Ho
KH
Kim
Joon Yong
JY
Park
Jin Heon
JH
Lee
Hak Yang
HY
Kim
Jae Young
JY
Yoo
Myoung Kuk
MK
Jang
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D000410:Alanine Transaminase