title: Influence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in chronic hepatitis C outcomes.
abstract: Persistence of hepatitis B virus-DNA in the sera, peripheral blood mononuclear cells or in the liver of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg)-negative patients with or without serological markers of previous exposure (antibodies to HBsAg and/or to HB-core antigen) defines the entity called occult hepatitis B infection (OBI). Co-infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C viruses is frequent in highly endemic areas. While this co-infection increases the risk of liver disease progression, development of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma and also increases the rate of therapeutic failure to interferon-based treatments than either virus alone, a potentially negative effect of OBI on clinical outcomes and of therapeutic response to current antiviral regimes of patients with chronic hepatitis C remains inconclusive.
authors.affiliation: Service of Gastroenterology, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, University King Juan Carlos, Av Budapest-1, 28922 Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain. cfernandez@fhalcorcon.es
authors.forename: Conrado M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Fernandez-Rodriguez
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Gutierrez
authors.forename: José Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Lledó
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Casas
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D018450:Disease Progression; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000821:virology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014775:Virus Activation; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D015415:Biomarkers; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies