title: Immunocompromised patients with HBsAg a determinant mutants: comparison of HBsAg diagnostic assays.
abstract: Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) is considered the best marker for the diagnosis of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Mutations of the s gene involving amino acid substitutions within the a determinant could affect the sensitivity of diagnostic tests. In the present study, HBsAg mutants were detected in 3 immunocompromised patients, previously found to be HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive. All patients had high levels of HBV-DNA, whereas HBsAg tests gave discordant results. Immunosuppression can cause viral reactivation of occult HBV infection in these patients and favour the selection of HBsAg a determinant mutants.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Napoli, Italia.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Veropalumbo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Marrone
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vallefuoco
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Perruolo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orlando
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Scordino
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tosone
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zampino
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Trani
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Genovese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Spadaro
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: D'Orio
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Portella
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020125:Mutation, Missense; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens