Occult hepatitis B virus infection in immunocompromised patients.
Occult hepatitis B infection is characterized by hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum in the absence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). We assessed occult HBV infection prevalence in two groups of immunocompromised patients (maintenance hemodialysis patients and HIV-positive patients) presenting HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc positive serological patterns, co-infected or not by HCV. Thirty-four hemodialysis anti-HIV negative patients, 159 HIV-positive patients and 150 blood donors who were anti-HBc positive (control group) were selected. HBV-DNA was detected by nested-PCR. Occult hepatitis B infection was not observed in the hemodialysis patients group but was found in 5% of the HIV-patients and in 4% of the blood donors. Immunosuppression in HIV positive patients was not a determining factor for occult HBV infection. In addition, no significant relationship between HBV-DNA and HCV co-infection in the HIV-positive patient group was found. A lack of significant associations was also observed between positivity for HBV-DNA and CD4 count, viral load and previous lamivudine treatment in these HIV-positive patients.
Jardim
Ruth Nogueira Cordeiro Moraes
RN
Study Group of Hepatitis, Infectious Disease, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medical Science, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Gonçales
Neiva Sellan Lopes
NS
Pereira
Josiane Silveira Felix
JS
Fais
Viviane Cristina
VC
Gonçales Junior
Fernando Lopes
FL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host / Q000276:immunology*; D019259:Lamivudine / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019562:Viral Load
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D019259:Lamivudine