title: Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus infection in hemodialysis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The prevalence of occult HBV infection depends on the prevalence of HBV infection in the general population. Hemodialysis patients are at increased risk for HBV infection. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult HBV infection in hemodialysis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total of 98 patients undergoing hemodialysis in CHA Bundang Medical Center (Seongnam, Korea) were included. Liver function tests and analysis of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc and anti-HCV were performed. HBV DNA testing was conducted by using two specific quantitative methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBsAg was detected in 4 of 98 patients (4.1%), and they were excluded. Among 94 patients with HBsAg negative and anti-HCV negative, one (1.1%) patient with the TaqMan PCR test and 3 (3.2%) patients with the COBAS Amplicor HBV test were positive for HBV DNA. One patient was positive in both methods. Two patients were positive for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc and one patient was negative for both anti-HBs and anti-HBc.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study showed the prevalence of occult HBV infection in HBsAg negative and anti-HCV negative patients on hemodialysis at our center was 3.2%. Because there is possibility of HBV transmission in HBsAg negative patients on hemodialysis, more attention should be given to prevent HBV transmission.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University, 59 Yatap-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam 463-712, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.forename: Seong Gyu
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Dong Ho
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Myung Su
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Son
authors.forename: Chang-Il
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Kwon
authors.forename: Kwang Hyun
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Sung Pyo
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Pil Won
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyu Sung
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Rim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D005243:Feces / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens / Q000276:immunology; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D000906:Antibodies; D004279:DNA, Viral; D006512:Hepatitis B Core Antigens; D018937:Hepatitis C Antibodies