title: Prevalence of occult hepatitis B virus in plasma and peripheral blood mononuclear cell compartments of patients with chronic hepatitis C infection in tehran-iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Occult hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection (OBI) is frequently reported in patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. An association between OBI and more liver damage, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and reduced response to interferon therapy in patients with HCV infection is suggested.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult HBV, and evaluate its clinical influence on patients with chronic HCV.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cohort study including50 patients with positive results for HCV, and negative results for HBsAg tests was performed. The patients were divided into two groups: one group had positive results for both HCV and occult HBV tests (n = 18), and the other had positive results for HCV, but negative findings for occult HBV (n = 32). All were treated with PEG-IFN alpha-2a and Ribavirin. Presence of HCV RNA was followed in these patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HBV-DNA was detected using nested-PCR in 20% of plasma and 32.6% of peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) compartments. No significant differences were observed between patients with and without occult HBV for sex, age, duration of HCV infection, histological markers, presence of anti-HBc, HCV viral load, and HCV genotype. The response rate was significantly higher in patients with positive results for HBV-DNA test compared to those with negative findings (100% vs. 71.9 %, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, occult HBV was found in 36% of patients with negative results for HBsAg, but positive results for HCV. Detection of HBV-DNA in both PBMCs and plasma together in comparison with plasma alone provided more true identification of OBI.The SVR rate was significantly higher in coinfected patients than mono-infected ones.
authors: Department of Basic Sciences, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, IR Iran.
authors: Zeinab
authors: Z
authors: Vakili Ghartavol
authors: Seyed Moayed
authors: SM
authors: Alavian
authors: Safieh
authors: S
authors: Amini
authors: Rouhollah
authors: R
authors: Vahabpour
authors: Golnaz
authors: G
authors: Bahramali
authors: Ehsan
authors: E
authors: Mostafavi
authors: Mohammad Reza
authors: MR
authors: Aghasadeghi
keywords: Hepatitis B; Hepatitis C Virus; Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cell
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