title: Therapeutic effects of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin in chronic hepatitis C patients with occult hepatitis B virus dual infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is defined by the detectable serum HBV-DNA in HBV surface antigen-negative patients. This retrospective study aims to evaluate the therapeutic effects of combined pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) plus ribavirin (RBV) in patients with concurrent occult HBV/hepatitis C virus (HCV) dual infection.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 126 consecutive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients who received combined PEG-IFN and RBV therapy were included. Patients were divided into the occult HBV/HCV dual infection group or the HCV-monoinfected group according to whether or not they had the detectable serum HBV-DNA. The biochemical and virological responses to combined therapy were compared between these two groups. Serum HCV-RNA and HBV-DNA were checked before treatment, at the end of treatment as well as at 6- and 12-months' follow up in the occult HBV/HCV group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients were seropositive for HBV-DNA and were included in the occult HBV/HCV dual infection group. There were no statistical differences in the biochemical and virological responses to combined therapy between these two groups. Undetectable serum HBV-DNA was noted at the end of the treatment and the 6- and 12-months' follow up in patients with occult HBV/HCV dual infection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Occult HBV infection in CHC patients is rare. The biochemical and virological responses to combined PEG-IFN and RBV therapy might be similar in CHC patients with or without occult HBV infection. The serum HBV-DNA level was low in patients with occult HBV/HCV dual infection who responded to combined therapy.
authors.affiliation: Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang-Gung University, College of Medicine, Keelung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Li-Wei
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Rong-Nan
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Chien
authors.forename: Cho-Li
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Yen
authors.forename: Jia-Jang
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ching-Jung
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Chih-Lang
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012254:Ribavirin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies; D000077190:Interferon alpha-2; D016898:Interferon-alpha; D012367:RNA, Viral; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D012254:Ribavirin; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; C417083:peginterferon alfa-2b; C100416:peginterferon alfa-2a