title: Occult hepatitis B virus infection in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients.
abstract: We investigated the prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients. Hemodialysis patients (n = 1041) were screened for occult HBV. The presence of hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), hepatitis B surface antibody, and hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) was determined by various chemiluminescent immunoassays. HBV-DNA was quantified in patients positive for anti-HBc using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Among the 1041 patients, six (0.6%) were HBsAg-positive and 218 (20.9%) were anti-HBc-positive. All HBsAg-positive patients also tested positive for the presence of HBV DNA. Of 212 HBsAg-negative and anti-HBc-positive patients, three were positive for HBV DNA. Our study showed that the prevalence of occult HBV infection in chronic hemodialysis patients from eastern Japan was 0.3%.
authors.affiliation: Mihama Sakura Clinic, 602-1 Shimosizu, Sakura, Chiba 285-0841, Japan. o.nagakawa@seijinkai.org
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nagakawa
authors.forename: Yoshiho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyatomi
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigeta
authors.forename: Emi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inayama
authors.forename: Kouichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: Takehiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kouno
authors.forename: Motoyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masai
authors.forename: Kohji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shirai
authors.forename: Toyohiko
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004279:DNA, Viral; D006510:Hepatitis B Antibodies; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens