Immunocompromised patients with HBsAg a determinant mutants: comparison of HBsAg diagnostic assays.
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.
Veropalumbo
E
E
Dipartimento di Biologia e Patologia Cellulare e Molecolare, Napoli, Italia.
Marrone
A
A
Vallefuoco
L
L
Perruolo
G
G
Orlando
R
R
Scordino
F
F
Tosone
G
G
Zampino
R
R
Trani
B
B
Genovese
A
A
Spadaro
G
G
D'Orio
C
C
Portella
G
G
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
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens